Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review Letters

Creating Polarization-Entangled Photon Pairs from a Semiconductor Quantum Dot Using the Optical Stark Effect

Andreas Müller, Wei Fang, John Lawall, Glenn S. Solomon

Published Nov 20, 2009• 202 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In typical epitaxial quantum dots (QDs) the ideally degenerate optical excitons are energy split, preventing the formation of two-photon entanglement in a biexciton decay. We use an external field, here a continuous-wave laser tuned to the QD in the ac Stark limit, to cancel the splitting and create two-photon entanglement. Quantum-state tomography is used to construct the two-photon density matrix. When the splitting is removed it satisfies well-known entanglement tests. Our approach shows that polarization-entangled photons can be routinely produced in semiconductor nanostructures.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.103.217402

Related papers

Polarization-entangled twin photons from two-photon quantum-dot emission

Dirk Heinze, A. Zrenner, Stefan Schumacher

Semiconductor quantum dots are promising sources for polarization-entangled photons. As an alternative to the usual cascaded biexciton-exciton emission, direct two-photon emission from the biexciton can be used. With a high-quality optical resonator tuned to half the biexciton energy, a large proportion of the photons can be steered into the two-photon emission channel. In this case the degree of polarization entanglement is inherently insensitive to the exciton fine-structure splitting. In the present work we analyze the biexciton emission with particular emphasis on the influence of coupling of the quantum-dot cavity system to its environment. Especially for a high-quality cavity, the coupling to the surrounding semiconductor material can open up additional phonon-assisted decay channels. Our analysis demonstrates that with the cavity tuned to half the biexciton energy, the potentially detrimental influence of the phonons on the polarization entanglement is strongly suppressed---high degrees of entanglement can still be achieved. We further discuss spectral properties and statistics of the emitted twin photons.

arXiv:1611.04328•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Jun 9, 2017•34 citations

Entangled photon sources based on semiconductor quantum dots: The role of pure dephasing

G. Pfanner, Marek Seliger, Ulrich Hohenester

We theoretically investigate the production of polarization-entangled photons through the biexciton cascade decay in a single semiconductor quantum dot. To accomplish a high degree of entanglement, despite the exciton fine-structure splitting, one must either energetically align the two exciton states by means of external fields or erase the which-path information by postselection or time reordering of photons. Here we show that in the latter schemes the photon state becomes deteriorated through dephasing processes in the solid, and the degree of entanglement remains low.

Physical Review B•Nov 11, 2008•38 citations

Formation dynamics of an entangled photon pair: A temperature-dependent analysis

Alexander Carmele, Frank Milde, Matthias‐René Dachner +4 more

We theoretically study the polarization entanglement of photons generated by the biexciton cascade in a GaAs/InAs semiconductor quantum dot (QD) located in a nanocavity. A detailed analysis of the complex interplay between photon and carrier coherences and phonons which occurs during the cascade allows us to clearly identify the conditions under which entanglement is generated and destroyed. A quantum state tomography is evaluated for varying exciton fine-structure splittings. Also, by constructing an effective multiphonon Hamiltonian which couples the continuum of the QD-embedding wetting layer states to the quantum confined states, we investigate the relaxation of the biexciton and exciton states. This consistently introduces a temperature dependence to the cascade. Considering typical Stranski-Krastanov grown QDs for temperatures around 80 K the degree of entanglement starts to be affected by the dephasing of the exciton states and is ultimately lost above 100 K.

arXiv:0910.5445•Physical Review B•May 26, 2010•38 citations

Triggered polarization-entangled photon pairs from a single quantum dot up to 30 K

R. Hafenbrak, Sven M. Ulrich, Peter Michler +3 more

The radiative biexciton–exciton decay in a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) has the potential of being a source of triggered polarization-entangled photon pairs. However, in most cases the anisotropy-induced exciton fine structure splitting destroys this entanglement. Here, we present measurements on improved QD structures, providing both significantly reduced inhomogeneous emission linewidths and near-zero fine structure splittings. A high-resolution detection technique is introduced which allows us to accurately determine the fine structure in the photoluminescence emission and therefore select appropriate QDs for quantum state tomography. We were able to verify the conditions of entangled or classically correlated photon pairs in full consistence with observed fine structure properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate reliable polarization-entanglement for elevated temperatures up to 30 K. The fidelity of the maximally entangled state decreases only a little from 72% at 4 K to 68% at 30 K. This is especially encouraging for future implementations in practical devices.

New Journal of Physics•Sep 10, 2007•241 citations

Signatures of the Optical Stark Effect on Entangled Photon Pairs from Resonantly Pumped Quantum Dots

Francesco Basso Basset, Michele B. Rota, Mattia Beccaceci +12 more

Two-photon resonant excitation of the biexciton-exciton cascade in a quantum dot generates highly polarization-entangled photon pairs in a near-deterministic way. However, the ultimate level of achievable entanglement is still debated. Here, we observe the impact of the laser-induced ac-Stark effect on the quantum dot emission spectra and on entanglement. For increasing pulse-duration-to-lifetime ratios and pump powers, decreasing values of concurrence are recorded. Nonetheless, additional contributions are still required to fully account for the observed below-unity concurrence.

arXiv:2212.07087•Physical Review Letters•Oct 16, 2023•11 citations

Effects of cavity-mediated processes on the polarization entanglement of photon pairs emitted from quantum dots

Mukesh Kumar Samal, Divya Mishra, Parvendra Kumar

Semiconductor quantum dots are among the best sources of on-demand entangled photon pairs. The degree of entanglement, however, is generally limited by the fine structure splitting of exciton states. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the generation of polarization-entangled photon pairs under two-photon excitation and cavity-assisted two-photon emission, both in the weak and strong cavity coupling regimes. We demonstrate and clarify that cavity coupling together with an excitation pulse reduces the degree of entanglement in three different ways. First, in a strong coupling regime, the cavity introduces the unequal ac-Stark shift of horizontally and vertically polarized exciton states, which results in the effective splitting of exciton states. Second, it induces the cross-coupling between the exciton states even in the weak coupling regime, causing the creation of unfavorable two-photon states. Finally, higher excited states of the cavity modes also contribute to the reduction of entanglement. Therefore, in the setting considered here, cavity coupling, which is generally required for the efficient collection of emitted photons, degrades the entanglement both in weak and strong coupling regimes.

arXiv:2312.12054•Physical Review A•Jan 16, 2024•2 citations
In typical epitaxial quantum dots (QDs) the ideally degenerate optical excitons are energy split, preventing the formation of two-photon entanglement in a biexciton decay. We use an external field, here a continuous-wave laser tuned to the QD in the ac Stark limit, to cancel the splitting and create two-photon entanglement. Quantum-state tomography is used to construct the two-photon density matrix. When the splitting is removed it satisfies well-known entanglement tests. Our approach shows that polarization-entangled photons can be routinely produced in semiconductor nanostructures.
Semiconductor quantum dots are promising sources for polarization-entangled photons. As an alternative to the usual cascaded biexciton-exciton emission, direct two-photon emission from the biexciton can be used. With a high-quality optical resonator tuned to half the biexciton energy, a large proportion of the photons can be steered into the two-photon emission channel. In this case the degree of polarization entanglement is inherently insensitive to the exciton fine-structure splitting. In the present work we analyze the biexciton emission with particular emphasis on the influence of coupling of the quantum-dot cavity system to its environment. Especially for a high-quality cavity, the coupling to the surrounding semiconductor material can open up additional phonon-assisted decay channels. Our analysis demonstrates that with the cavity tuned to half the biexciton energy, the potentially detrimental influence of the phonons on the polarization entanglement is strongly suppressed---high degrees of entanglement can still be achieved. We further discuss spectral properties and statistics of the emitted twin photons.
We theoretically investigate the production of polarization-entangled photons through the biexciton cascade decay in a single semiconductor quantum dot. To accomplish a high degree of entanglement, despite the exciton fine-structure splitting, one must either energetically align the two exciton states by means of external fields or erase the which-path information by postselection or time reordering of photons. Here we show that in the latter schemes the photon state becomes deteriorated through dephasing processes in the solid, and the degree of entanglement remains low.
We theoretically study the polarization entanglement of photons generated by the biexciton cascade in a GaAs/InAs semiconductor quantum dot (QD) located in a nanocavity. A detailed analysis of the complex interplay between photon and carrier coherences and phonons which occurs during the cascade allows us to clearly identify the conditions under which entanglement is generated and destroyed. A quantum state tomography is evaluated for varying exciton fine-structure splittings. Also, by constructing an effective multiphonon Hamiltonian which couples the continuum of the QD-embedding wetting layer states to the quantum confined states, we investigate the relaxation of the biexciton and exciton states. This consistently introduces a temperature dependence to the cascade. Considering typical Stranski-Krastanov grown QDs for temperatures around 80 K the degree of entanglement starts to be affected by the dephasing of the exciton states and is ultimately lost above 100 K.
The radiative biexciton–exciton decay in a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) has the potential of being a source of triggered polarization-entangled photon pairs. However, in most cases the anisotropy-induced exciton fine structure splitting destroys this entanglement. Here, we present measurements on improved QD structures, providing both significantly reduced inhomogeneous emission linewidths and near-zero fine structure splittings. A high-resolution detection technique is introduced which allows us to accurately determine the fine structure in the photoluminescence emission and therefore select appropriate QDs for quantum state tomography. We were able to verify the conditions of entangled or classically correlated photon pairs in full consistence with observed fine structure properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate reliable polarization-entanglement for elevated temperatures up to 30 K. The fidelity of the maximally entangled state decreases only a little from 72% at 4 K to 68% at 30 K. This is especially encouraging for future implementations in practical devices.
Two-photon resonant excitation of the biexciton-exciton cascade in a quantum dot generates highly polarization-entangled photon pairs in a near-deterministic way. However, the ultimate level of achievable entanglement is still debated. Here, we observe the impact of the laser-induced ac-Stark effect on the quantum dot emission spectra and on entanglement. For increasing pulse-duration-to-lifetime ratios and pump powers, decreasing values of concurrence are recorded. Nonetheless, additional contributions are still required to fully account for the observed below-unity concurrence.
Semiconductor quantum dots are among the best sources of on-demand entangled photon pairs. The degree of entanglement, however, is generally limited by the fine structure splitting of exciton states. In this paper, we theoretically investigate the generation of polarization-entangled photon pairs under two-photon excitation and cavity-assisted two-photon emission, both in the weak and strong cavity coupling regimes. We demonstrate and clarify that cavity coupling together with an excitation pulse reduces the degree of entanglement in three different ways. First, in a strong coupling regime, the cavity introduces the unequal ac-Stark shift of horizontally and vertically polarized exciton states, which results in the effective splitting of exciton states. Second, it induces the cross-coupling between the exciton states even in the weak coupling regime, causing the creation of unfavorable two-photon states. Finally, higher excited states of the cavity modes also contribute to the reduction of entanglement. Therefore, in the setting considered here, cavity coupling, which is generally required for the efficient collection of emitted photons, degrades the entanglement both in weak and strong coupling regimes.