Solid-state single-photon emitters

Nor Azwa Zakaria

Lachlan J. Rogers, Kay D. Jahnke, Tokuyuki Teraji +8 more

Emitters of indistinguishable single photons are crucial for the growing field of quantum technologies. To realize scalability and increase the complexity of quantum optics technologies, multiple independent yet identical single-photon emitters are required. However, typical solid-state single-photon sources are inherently dissimilar, necessitating the use of electrical feedback or optical cavities to improve spectral overlap between distinct emitters. Here we demonstrate bright silicon vacancy (SiV−) centres in low-strain bulk diamond, which show spectral overlap of up to 91% and nearly transform-limited excitation linewidths. This is the first time that distinct single-photon emitters in the solid state have shown intrinsically identical spectral properties. Our results have impact on the application of single-photon sources for quantum optics and cryptography. In quantum optical technologies, identical emitters of indistinguishable single photons are difficult to realize due to the inherent dissimilarity of each emitting device. Here, Rogers et al.demonstrate a solid-state uniform single-photon source, which does not require external tuning of optical properties.

Heejun Byeon, Michael Titze, Jacob Henshaw +7 more

Integrated solid-state single photon emitters cint.lanl.govSPEs are building blocks for quantum applications : ▪ Quantum key distribution / quantum network ▪ Quantum metrology : !" (classic) → !

Lorenzo De Santis, C. Antón, B. Reznychenko +10 more

Jiang, Yizhi

Single-photon emitters (SPEs) are essential building blocks for quantum photonics. In recent decades, numerous solid-state SPEs have been discovered, offering emission across various wavelengths and operating conditions, and showing great potential for scalable quantum photonic platforms. However, realizing large-scale applications requires efficient and high-throughput characterization, which remains insufficiently explored.Here, we present a quantum microscope, which is a universal platform compatible with the investigation of different types of solid-state SPEs. By integrating super- conducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), our system enables precise photon counting and reliable identification of individual emitters. Using this platform, we demonstrate measurements on both defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and semiconductor quantum dots, showcasing its adaptability across material systems. We further discuss methods to improve measurement efficiency, including a machine learning classifier that accelerates the selection of SPEs based on second-order auto- correlation measurements. Our work provides a versatile platform for large-scale and efficient characterization of solid-state single-photon emitters, thereby advancing the development of scalable quantum photonic systems.

Anna Musiał, Grzegorz Sek, Philipp‐Immanuel Schneider +1 more