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Quantum Information and Measurement (QIM)

Optical positioning of single-photon emitters for quantum information technology applications

Luca Sapienza, Marcelo Davanço, A. Badolato, Kartik A. Srinivasan

Published Jan 1, 2017• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We locate single quantum dots with nanoscale accuracy through photoluminescence imaging. This technique, combined with atomic force microscopy, enables nanophotonic devices with engineered light-matter coupling, showing bright, Purcell-enhanced, on-demand single-photon emission with >99% purity.
DOI
10.1364/qim.2017.qw3c.2

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Deterministically integrating single solid-state quantum emitters with photonic nanostructures serves as a key enabling resource in the context of photonic quantum technology. Due to the random spatial location of many widely-used solid-state quantum emitters, a number of positoning approaches for locating the quantum emitters before nanofabrication have been explored in the last decade. Here, we review the working principles of several nanoscale positioning methods and the most recent progress in this field, covering techniques including atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy with \textit{in situ} lithography, and wide-field fluorescence imaging. A selection of representative device demonstrations with high-performance is presented, including high-quality single-photon sources, bright entangled-photon pairs, strongly-coupled cavity QED systems, and other emerging applications. The challenges in applying positioning techniques to different material systems and opportunities for using these approaches for realizing large-scale quantum photonic devices are discussed.
Developing reliable and efficient single-photon sources is crucial for advancing quantum technologies, relying on nonlinear frequency conversion or spontaneous emission from individual quantum emitters. While different types of single-photon sources excel in specific applications, none meet all criteria for an “ideal” source: exceptional brightness, high purity, and indistinguishability. To address this challenge, coupling single-photon emitters with designer nanostructures can significantly enhance emission performance, a pivotal area in quantum nanophotonics. This review summarizes recent advancements over the past decade in generating and manipulating single photons, emphasizing the pivotal role of nanostructure coupling. Single-photon emission systems—such as nonlinear crystals, solid-state defects, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes, and two-dimensional materials—are categorized quantitatively based on their ability to achieve high purity, indistinguishability, and brightness, presented in a three-dimensional technology map. Furthermore, nanostructure engineering is showcased for manipulating properties such as emission direction, polarization, chirality, and entanglement of single photons. By elucidating these critical aspects, this review aims to advance understanding of how advancements in nanostructured environments promise to shape the future of single-photon generation and manipulation within quantum nanophotonics.
Abstract Deterministically integrating single solid‐state quantum emitters with photonic nanostructures serves as a key enabling resource in the context of photonic quantum technology. Due to the random spatial location of many widely‐used solid‐state quantum emitters, a number of positioning approaches for locating the quantum emitters before nanofabrication have been explored in the last decade. Here, the working principles of several nanoscale positioning methods and the most recent progress in this field, covering techniques including atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy with in situ lithography, and wide‐field fluorescence imaging are reviewed. A selection of representative device demonstrations with high‐performance is presented, including high‐quality single‐photon sources, bright entangled‐photon pairs, strongly‐coupled cavity QED systems, and other emerging applications. The challenges in applying positioning techniques to different material systems and opportunities for using these approaches for realizing large‐scale quantum photonic devices are discussed.
In the pursuit of developing a quantum information network, photons appear to be the most convenient carriers to interconnect distant ports. The need to get on-demand single photons that is one and only one photon, with a high reliability, is the main driving force for the development of bright solid-state sources. One important parameter is the brightness defined as the probability that one collected pulse contains a single photon. For some applications like quantum information processing or long distance quantum communications, the emitted single photons must be also indistinguishable, so that can make use of their quantum interference to implement effective photon-photon interactions. To reach the ideal source of single and indistinguishable photons, different systems are explored : defects in diamond (NV centers), trapped atoms or ions, single molecules or semiconductor quantum dots.By coupling a semiconductor quantum dot to an optical cavity, the spontaneous emission of the emitter can be modified to obtain bright single-photon sources. An innovative technique was developed by Pr. Pascale Senellart and her team at the Laboratory of Photonics and Nanostructures (LPN) from CNRS that allows making such sources in a very reproducible way.This work explores the performance of single quantum dot coupled to micropillars. Various techniques are used in order to increase the single photon purity and indistinguishability while keeping a high source brightness. First, the cavity was modified using an adiabatic architecture such that a strong acceleration of the spontaneous emission was implemented. Then, a technique to apply an electric bias on the micropillars has been developed. The combination of the electric bias with a resonant optical excitation of the quantum dot allows to generation purely indistinguishable photons with a high brightness.The results developed in this thesis open a vast field of novel applications in quantum technologies, from quantum cryptography, metrology to quantum imaging.
Quantum light and in particular single photons have become essential resources for a growing number of quantum applications including quantum computing, quantum key distribution and quantum metrology. Solid-state atomlike systems such as semiconductor quantum dots and color defects in crystals have become the hallmark of highly pure single photon emitters in the past two decades. A particular interest has been developed in nanocrystal quantum dots (NQDs) and color centers in diamond as potential compact room-temperature emitters. There are however several challenges that inhibit the use of such sources in current technologies including low photon extraction efficiency, low emission rates and relatively low single photon purities. In this work we will review our efforts in overcoming these technical difficulties using several complementary methods including designing several nanoantenna devices that enhance the directionality and emission rate of the nanoemitter. In addition, we developed several temporal heralding techniques to overcome the hurdle of low single photon purity in NQDs in an effort to produce a highly pure, bright and efficient single photon source on-chip.