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Ultrafast Phenomena and Nanophotonics

Quantum nonlinear optics in one dimension (Conference Presentation)

Nir Rotenberg

Published Mar 14, 2018• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

At the quantum limit of nonlinear optics, where single photons interact with individual emitters, new phenomena are found. One-dimensional, subwavelength waveguides have recently emerged as a promising quantum optical platform capable of both guiding and confining photons, leading to efficient light-matter interactions and enhancing quantum optical nonlinearities. We explore this regime using both single organic molecules and epitaxially grown quantum dots coupled to nanoscale waveguides. In the first case, two-color experiments allow us to observe distinctly quantum nonlinearities such as Stark shifts of the molecular resonances or amplification without population inversion, although we are limited by relatively weak molecule-waveguide coupling. In contrast, quantum dots can be nearly perfectly coupled to waveguides, allowing us to demonstrate optical nonlinearities at the true single photon level. These, as we discuss, can be used as a basis for novel on-chip quantum technologies.

DOI
10.1117/12.2292796

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At the quantum limit of nonlinear optics, where single photons interact with individual emitters, new phenomena are found. One-dimensional, subwavelength waveguides have recently emerged as a promising quantum optical platform capable of both guiding and confining photons, leading to efficient light-matter interactions and enhancing quantum optical nonlinearities. We explore this regime using both single organic molecules and epitaxially grown quantum dots coupled to nanoscale waveguides. In the first case, two-color experiments allow us to observe distinctly quantum nonlinearities such as Stark shifts of the molecular resonances or amplification without population inversion, although we are limited by relatively weak molecule-waveguide coupling. In contrast, quantum dots can be nearly perfectly coupled to waveguides, allowing us to demonstrate optical nonlinearities at the true single photon level. These, as we discuss, can be used as a basis for novel on-chip quantum technologies.
Many interesting proposals in quantum optics and light-matter interaction rely on having multiple quantum emitters well-coupled to a single mode of light. Of particular interest are cases where several identical emitters couple to a one-dimensional (1D) photonic medium. Recently, we presented such a system by evanescent coupling of organic dye molecules to the same guided mode of an on-chip subwavelength waveguide [1]. While this coupling allowed us to demonstrate up to 7.5% transmission extinction of the propagating light by a single molecule, it is still not sufficient for achieving higher-order effects such as photon-mediated interaction of multiple emitters coupled to the same waveguide.
Quantum optical nonlinearities have received growing interest for their key role in quantum information science, quantum simulations, and other quantum technologies. Unfortunately, most materials exhibit very weak optical nonlinearities, virtually non-existent at the single photon level. Nano-scale optical resonators can store light for a long period of time in cubic-wavelength scale volume, and thus present a unique opportunity to enhance the light-matter interaction. Additionally, breakthroughs in materials science allow us to engineer inherently strong nonlinear materials. In this talk, I will present our theoretical and experimental efforts in nonlinear nanophotonics, integrated with atomically thin 2D materials, specifically transition metal dichalcogenides and solution-processed quantum dots. By confining both light and matter in the wavelength scale, we aim to reach the nonlinear regime, where single photons start repelling each other. I will also elaborate on the possibility of scaling this platform to multiple single photon quantum nodes with the possibility of creating a correlated quantum fluid of light.
Efficient interaction of light and matter at the ultimate limit of single photons and single emitters is of great interest from a fundamental point of view and for emerging applications in quantum engineering. However, the difficulty of generating single-photon streams with specific wavelengths, bandwidths, and power as well as the weak interaction probability of a single photon with an optical emitter pose a formidable challenge toward this goal. Here, we demonstrate a general approach based on the creation of single photons from a single emitter and their use for performing spectroscopy on a second emitter situated at a distance. While this first proof of principle realization uses organic molecules as emitters, the scheme is readily extendable to quantum dots and color centers. Our work ushers in a new line of experiments that provide access to the coherent and nonlinear couplings of few emitters and few propagating photons.
Summary form only given. A current challenge and trend in optical sciences is to extend the toolbox generated from experiments with single emitters and single photons towards interfacing photons with a well-defined number of quantum emitters. The resulting complex optical network would enable studies of many-body quantum optical phenomena and could lend itself to quantum simulations. However, common light-matter interfaces via strong focusing or cavity enhancement do not scale favourably. Therefore, achieving many-body coupling while preserving control of the individual quantum systems poses remarkable experimental challenges.Here, we present an inherently scalable platform, which relies on the evanescent coupling of single dye molecules to subwavelength TiO2waveguides (nanoguides) that are embedded in an organic matrix (Fig. 1a). At liquid helium temperatures, we observe lifetime-limited linewidths for these molecules distributed over an inhomogeneously broadened spectrum. However, by using integrated microelectrodes, we can Stark shift the resonances over a large bandwidth. The dopant concentration determines the optical density of our system which can reach up to a few hundred molecules per cubic wavelength. The highly confined mode of a nanoguide allows a substantial mode overlap with the emission pattern of a single emitter, resulting in coupling efficiencies of up to 32%. Therefore, we can observe coherent extinction signals from many different molecules in the transmission signal of a nanoguide; an example is shown by the blue curve in Fig. 1b [1]. The green and red curves in Fig. 1b demonstrate the nonlinear behaviour of a molecule when driven with a second narrow-band laser [1, 2]. We show that by modifying the spectral properties of the molecules either via external optical or static electric fields we control the optical response of a nanoguide. In addition to discussing subtleties of design and fabrication, we elaborate on future efforts towards the realization of on-chip polaritonic states [3] and the integration of further optical elements such as micoresonators [4].
Quantum optical nonlinearities have received growing interest for their key role in quantum information science, quantum simulations, and other quantum technologies. Unfortunately, most materials exhibit very weak optical nonlinearities, virtually non-existent at the single photon level. Nano-scale optical resonators can store light for a long period of time in cubic-wavelength scale volume, and thus present a unique opportunity to enhance the light-matter interaction. Additionally, breakthroughs in materials science allow us to engineer inherently strong nonlinear materials. In this talk, I will present our theoretical and experimental efforts in nonlinear nanophotonics, integrated with atomically thin 2D materials, specifically transition metal dichalcogenides and solution-processed quantum dots. By confining both light and matter in the wavelength scale, we aim to reach the nonlinear regime, where single photons start repelling each other. I will also elaborate on the possibility of scaling this platform to multiple single photon quantum nodes with the possibility of creating a correlated quantum fluid of light.
A single semiconductor quantum dot that is strongly coupled to a photonic crystal nanocavity yields optical nonlinearities at the single photon level. The promise of quantum information processing is driving developments in several different physical implementations. Photons are attractive as carriers of quantum information be-cause they can travel long distances without losing their infor-mation through interactions with their environment. However, their passive nature can be a problem in applications such as the construction of logic gates, where it is necessary for two or more photons to interact. This interaction requires a nonlinear optical medium. Particularly strong nonlinearities are achieved when photons drive an emitter near its resonance frequency, and this nonlinearity is even greater if the photon is confined near the emitter in an optical cavity.