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

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Controlling the emission and absorption spectrum of a quantum emitter in a dynamic environment

Herbert F. Fotso

Published Nov 27, 2018• 7 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract We study the emission spectrum and absorption spectrum of a quantum emitter when it is driven by various pulse sequences. We consider the Uhrig sequence of nonequidistant π x pulses, the periodic sequence of π x π y pulses and the periodic sequence of π z pulses (phase kicks). We find that, similar to the periodic sequence of π x pulses, the Uhrig sequence of π x pulses has emission and absorption that are, with small variations, analogous to those of the resonance fluorescence spectrum. In addition, while the periodic sequence of π z pulses produces a spectrum that is dependent on the detuning between the emitter and the pulse carrier frequency, the Uhrig sequence of nonequidistant π x pulses and the periodic sequence of π x π y pulses have spectra with little dependence on the detuning as long as it stays moderate along with the number of pulses. This implies that they can also, similar to the previously studied periodic sequence of π x pulses, be used to tune the emission or absorption of quantum emitters to specific frequencies, to mitigate inhomogeneous broadening and to enhance the production of indistinguishable photons from emitters in the solid state.

DOI
10.1088/1361-6455/aaf452

Related papers

Emission and Absorption Spectrum of Pulse-Driven Two-Level Systems in Dynamic Environments

Herbert F. Fotso

We study the emission spectrum and absorption spectrum of a quantum emitter when it is driven by various pulse sequences. We consider the Uhrig sequence of $π_x$ pulses, the periodic sequence of $π_xπ_y$ pulses and the periodic sequence of $π_z$ pulses (phase kicks). We find that, similar to the periodic sequence of $π_x$ pulses, the Uhrig sequence of $π_x$ pulses has emission and absorption that are, with small variations, analogous to those of the resonance fluorescence spectrum. In addition, while the periodic sequence of $π_z$ pulses produces a spectrum that is dependent on the detuning between the emitter and the pulse carrier frequency, the Uhrig sequence of nonequidistant $π_x$ pulses and the periodic sequence of $π_xπ_y$ pulses have spectra with little dependence on the detuning as long as it stays moderate along with the number of pulses. This implies that they can also, similar to previously studied periodic sequence of $π_x$ pulses, be used to tune the emission or absorption of quantum emitters to specific frequencies, to mitigate inhomogeneous broadening and to enhance the production of indistinguishable photons from emitters the solid state.

arXiv:1801.04442•Jan 13, 2018•0 citations

Absorption spectrum of a two-level system subjected to a periodic pulse sequence

Herbert F. Fotso, V. V. Dobrovitski

We investigate how the quantum control of a two-level system (TLS) coupled to photons can modify and tune the TLS's photon absorption spectrum. Tuning and controlling the emission and the absorption are of great interest, e.g., for the development of efficient interfaces between stationary and flying qubits in modern architectures for quantum computation and quantum communication. We consider periodic pulse control, where the TLS is subjected to a periodic sequence of the near-resonant Rabi driving pulses, each pulse implementing a ${180}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ rotation. For small interpulse delays, the absorption spectrum features a pronounced peak of stimulated emission at the pulse frequency, similar satellite peaks with smaller spectral weights, and the net absorption peaks on the sides. As long as the detuning between the carrier frequency of the driving and the TLS transition frequency remains moderate, this spectral shape shows little change. Therefore, the pulse control allows shifting the absorption peak to a desired position and locks the overall absorption spectrum to the carrier frequency of the driving pulses. A detailed description of the spectrum and its evolution as a function time, the interpulse spacing, and the detuning is presented.

arXiv:1701.07865•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Jun 1, 2017•10 citations

Spectral Diffusion Mitigation with a Laser Pulse Sequence

Kilian Unterguggenberger, Alok Gokhale, Aleksei Tsarapkin +6 more

The optical spectrum of a quantum system is jointly determined by the properties of the emitter and the driving field. All-optical spectral control can hence be a promising method to engineer the properties of single photon emitters for quantum technological applications. It was proposed that driving a two-level system with a periodic sequence of optical pi-pulses during the excited state lifetime shifts the emission and absorption maximum to an arbitrarily detuned pulse carrier frequency, enabling the mitigation of spectral diffusion in noisy emitters. In this article, we report on the first experimental observation of this effect. We implement the protocol on a solid-state emitter and reduce its inhomogeneously broadened optical linewidth close to the lifetime limit. By detuning the excitation laser, we are able to concentrate approximately half of the absorption to a freely selectable target frequency. Our approach is solely based on properties of coherently evolving quantum systems, rendering it applicable to a wide range of individual and ensembles of quantum emitters.

quant-pharXiv:2604.21659•Apr 24, 2026•0 citations

Tuning spectral properties of individual and multiple quantum emitters in noisy environments

Herbert F. Fotso

A quantum emitter in a dynamic environment may have its energy levels drift uncontrollably in time with the fluctuating bath. This can result in an emission and/or absorption spectrum that is spread over a broad range of frequencies and presents a challenging hurdle for various applications. We consider a quantum emitter in an environment that alters the energy levels so that the emission frequency is represented by a Gaussian random distribution around a given mean value with given standard deviation and correlation time. We study the emission spectrum of this system when it is placed under the influence of a periodic sequence of finite-width $\ensuremath{\pi}$ pulses. We show that this external field protocol can effectively overcome spectral diffusion in this system by refocusing the bulk of the emission spectrum onto the pulse carrier frequency. We further consider two such emitters in different noisy environments and find that the two-photon interference operation can be made efficient by the sequence of finite-width pulses applied on both systems. Finally, we show that an ensemble of nominally similar emitters, each with its different environment, and thus randomly shifted emission frequency, can have its overall emission spectrum that would otherwise be inhomogeneously broadened according to the random distribution, refocused onto a lineshape with a well-defined central peak that has the linewidth of an individual isolated non-noisy emitter. These results demonstrate for this specific model of noisy environments, the protection of spectral properties by an external control protocol here represented by a periodic sequence of finite-width pulses.

arXiv:2207.02770•Physical Review A•Feb 21, 2023•2 citations

Periodic-Pulse Control of Collective Emission and Photon Statistics in Interacting Quantum Emitters

Kavalambramalil George Paulson, Fu Li, Hanna Terletska

We investigate the collective emission spectra and photon correlations of two identical dipole-dipole-coupled emitters under continuous-wave (CW) and periodic pulsed driving. Our results show that a periodic train of instantaneous $π_x$ pulses can generate emission spectra whose dominant features closely resemble those obtained under CW excitation. We find that the structure of the collective emission spectra reflects the interplay among the resonance conditions, dipole-dipole coupling, and the inter-pulse delay $τ_D$. We further demonstrate that finite-duration $π_x$ pulses with sufficiently high Rabi frequencies can closely reproduce the ideal instantaneous-pulse limit. In contrast to the emission spectra, the photon correlations $g^{(2)}(t,τ)$ are governed primarily by $τ_D$ and, unlike under CW driving, become increasingly insensitive to the resonance conditions in the short-pulse limit. These results establish periodic pulsed driving as a versatile means of tailoring both the emission spectra and the photon statistics of coupled two-emitter systems.

quant-pharXiv:2610.17367•Oct 14, 2026•0 citations

Pulse-enhanced two-photon interference with solid state quantum emitters

Herbert F. Fotso

The ability to entangle distant quantum nodes is essential for the construction of quantum networks and for quantum information processing. For solid-state quantum emitters used as qubits, it can be achieved by photon interference. When the emitter is subject to spectral diffusion, this process can become highly inefficient, impeding the achievement of scalable quantum technologies. We study two-photon interference in the context of a Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM)-type experiment for two separate quantum emitters, with different detunings with respect to a specific target frequency. We evaluate the second order coherences that characterize photon indistinguishability between the two emitters. We find that the two-photon interference operation that is inefficient in the absence of a control protocol, when the two detunings are different and spectral overlap is lessened, can be highly improved by a periodic sequence of $\ensuremath{\pi}$ pulses at a set target frequency. Photon indistinguishability in solid state and other quantum emitters subject to spectral diffusion can thus be enhanced by the proposed pulse sequence and similar external control protocols despite the fluctuations in the environment.

arXiv:1907.00045•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Sep 23, 2019•6 citations
Abstract We study the emission spectrum and absorption spectrum of a quantum emitter when it is driven by various pulse sequences. We consider the Uhrig sequence of nonequidistant π x pulses, the periodic sequence of π x π y pulses and the periodic sequence of π z pulses (phase kicks). We find that, similar to the periodic sequence of π x pulses, the Uhrig sequence of π x pulses has emission and absorption that are, with small variations, analogous to those of the resonance fluorescence spectrum. In addition, while the periodic sequence of π z pulses produces a spectrum that is dependent on the detuning between the emitter and the pulse carrier frequency, the Uhrig sequence of nonequidistant π x pulses and the periodic sequence of π x π y pulses have spectra with little dependence on the detuning as long as it stays moderate along with the number of pulses. This implies that they can also, similar to the previously studied periodic sequence of π x pulses, be used to tune the emission or absorption of quantum emitters to specific frequencies, to mitigate inhomogeneous broadening and to enhance the production of indistinguishable photons from emitters in the solid state.
We study the emission spectrum and absorption spectrum of a quantum emitter when it is driven by various pulse sequences. We consider the Uhrig sequence of πxπ_xπx​ pulses, the periodic sequence of πxπyπ_xπ_yπx​πy​ pulses and the periodic sequence of πzπ_zπz​ pulses (phase kicks). We find that, similar to the periodic sequence of πxπ_xπx​ pulses, the Uhrig sequence of πxπ_xπx​ pulses has emission and absorption that are, with small variations, analogous to those of the resonance fluorescence spectrum. In addition, while the periodic sequence of πzπ_zπz​ pulses produces a spectrum that is dependent on the detuning between the emitter and the pulse carrier frequency, the Uhrig sequence of nonequidistant πxπ_xπx​ pulses and the periodic sequence of πxπyπ_xπ_yπx​πy​ pulses have spectra with little dependence on the detuning as long as it stays moderate along with the number of pulses. This implies that they can also, similar to previously studied periodic sequence of πxπ_xπx​ pulses, be used to tune the emission or absorption of quantum emitters to specific frequencies, to mitigate inhomogeneous broadening and to enhance the production of indistinguishable photons from emitters the solid state.
We investigate how the quantum control of a two-level system (TLS) coupled to photons can modify and tune the TLS's photon absorption spectrum. Tuning and controlling the emission and the absorption are of great interest, e.g., for the development of efficient interfaces between stationary and flying qubits in modern architectures for quantum computation and quantum communication. We consider periodic pulse control, where the TLS is subjected to a periodic sequence of the near-resonant Rabi driving pulses, each pulse implementing a ${180}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ rotation. For small interpulse delays, the absorption spectrum features a pronounced peak of stimulated emission at the pulse frequency, similar satellite peaks with smaller spectral weights, and the net absorption peaks on the sides. As long as the detuning between the carrier frequency of the driving and the TLS transition frequency remains moderate, this spectral shape shows little change. Therefore, the pulse control allows shifting the absorption peak to a desired position and locks the overall absorption spectrum to the carrier frequency of the driving pulses. A detailed description of the spectrum and its evolution as a function time, the interpulse spacing, and the detuning is presented.
The optical spectrum of a quantum system is jointly determined by the properties of the emitter and the driving field. All-optical spectral control can hence be a promising method to engineer the properties of single photon emitters for quantum technological applications. It was proposed that driving a two-level system with a periodic sequence of optical pi-pulses during the excited state lifetime shifts the emission and absorption maximum to an arbitrarily detuned pulse carrier frequency, enabling the mitigation of spectral diffusion in noisy emitters. In this article, we report on the first experimental observation of this effect. We implement the protocol on a solid-state emitter and reduce its inhomogeneously broadened optical linewidth close to the lifetime limit. By detuning the excitation laser, we are able to concentrate approximately half of the absorption to a freely selectable target frequency. Our approach is solely based on properties of coherently evolving quantum systems, rendering it applicable to a wide range of individual and ensembles of quantum emitters.
A quantum emitter in a dynamic environment may have its energy levels drift uncontrollably in time with the fluctuating bath. This can result in an emission and/or absorption spectrum that is spread over a broad range of frequencies and presents a challenging hurdle for various applications. We consider a quantum emitter in an environment that alters the energy levels so that the emission frequency is represented by a Gaussian random distribution around a given mean value with given standard deviation and correlation time. We study the emission spectrum of this system when it is placed under the influence of a periodic sequence of finite-width $\ensuremath{\pi}$ pulses. We show that this external field protocol can effectively overcome spectral diffusion in this system by refocusing the bulk of the emission spectrum onto the pulse carrier frequency. We further consider two such emitters in different noisy environments and find that the two-photon interference operation can be made efficient by the sequence of finite-width pulses applied on both systems. Finally, we show that an ensemble of nominally similar emitters, each with its different environment, and thus randomly shifted emission frequency, can have its overall emission spectrum that would otherwise be inhomogeneously broadened according to the random distribution, refocused onto a lineshape with a well-defined central peak that has the linewidth of an individual isolated non-noisy emitter. These results demonstrate for this specific model of noisy environments, the protection of spectral properties by an external control protocol here represented by a periodic sequence of finite-width pulses.
We investigate the collective emission spectra and photon correlations of two identical dipole-dipole-coupled emitters under continuous-wave (CW) and periodic pulsed driving. Our results show that a periodic train of instantaneous πxπ_xπx​ pulses can generate emission spectra whose dominant features closely resemble those obtained under CW excitation. We find that the structure of the collective emission spectra reflects the interplay among the resonance conditions, dipole-dipole coupling, and the inter-pulse delay τDτ_DτD​. We further demonstrate that finite-duration πxπ_xπx​ pulses with sufficiently high Rabi frequencies can closely reproduce the ideal instantaneous-pulse limit. In contrast to the emission spectra, the photon correlations g(2)(t,τ)g^{(2)}(t,τ)g(2)(t,τ) are governed primarily by τDτ_DτD​ and, unlike under CW driving, become increasingly insensitive to the resonance conditions in the short-pulse limit. These results establish periodic pulsed driving as a versatile means of tailoring both the emission spectra and the photon statistics of coupled two-emitter systems.
The ability to entangle distant quantum nodes is essential for the construction of quantum networks and for quantum information processing. For solid-state quantum emitters used as qubits, it can be achieved by photon interference. When the emitter is subject to spectral diffusion, this process can become highly inefficient, impeding the achievement of scalable quantum technologies. We study two-photon interference in the context of a Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM)-type experiment for two separate quantum emitters, with different detunings with respect to a specific target frequency. We evaluate the second order coherences that characterize photon indistinguishability between the two emitters. We find that the two-photon interference operation that is inefficient in the absence of a control protocol, when the two detunings are different and spectral overlap is lessened, can be highly improved by a periodic sequence of $\ensuremath{\pi}$ pulses at a set target frequency. Photon indistinguishability in solid state and other quantum emitters subject to spectral diffusion can thus be enhanced by the proposed pulse sequence and similar external control protocols despite the fluctuations in the environment.