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

Ultrafast Phenomena and Nanophotonics

Photon echo generation using chirped pulses in quantum dots (Conference Presentation)

Masanari Watanabe, Naoto Aonuma, Kouichi Akahane, Junko Ishi‐Hayase

Published Mar 5, 2019• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

In quantum information technology, it is necessary to develop a light-matter quantum interface that transfers and stores quantum information. As a bandwidth of quantum entangled photon pairs used for quantum information increases, a quantum interface with broad bandwidth will be required. The combination of quantum dot (QD) ensemble and photon echo (PE) method is one of promising methods for broadband quantum interface. Since the bandwidth of the quantum interface using this method is limited only by the inhomogeneous width of the QDs, it is possible to implement a quantum interface with the bandwidth of 10 THz at telecommunication wavelength. However, in the PE method, the spatial inhomogeneousity of the laser intensity and the inhomogeneousity of the resonance frequency of the QDs result in the uniform quantum control of excitons in QDs. As a result, the regeneration efficiency of the PE light is significantly deteriorated. To solve this problem, it is effective to introduce a quantum control method using chirped pulses (Adaptive Rapid Passages; ARPs) which is robust to inhomogeneousities. In this study, we demonstrate that the regeneration efficiency of PE in inhomogeneous QDs can be improved by ARPs using femtosecond pulses. By performing numerical simulation and optical experiments, it was found that the regeneration efficiency improves as the chirp amount and the pulse area increase, and saturates at a certain condition.

DOI
10.1117/12.2508198

Related papers

Enhancement of Femtosecond Photon Echo Signals From an Inhomogeneously Broadened InAs Quantum Dot Ensemble Using Chirped Pulses

Yuta Kochi, Yutaro Kinoshita, Masanari Watanabe +3 more

Photon echo (PE) techniques offer a promising approach to optical quantum memory, yet their implementation in conventional platforms, such as rare-earth-ion-doped crystals, is hindered by limited bandwidths. Semiconductor quantum dot (QD) ensembles, featuring THz-scale inhomogeneous broadening and sub-picosecond dynamics, provide an attractive alternative for ultrafast applications. However, achieving coherent control across such broad spectral ranges remains challenging due to detuning and spatial field inhomogeneities, which reduce PE efficiency. In this work, we demonstrate that chirped rephasing pulses satisfying adiabatic conditions enable robust adiabatic rapid passage (ARP) across an inhomogeneously broadened InAs QD ensemble. This approach achieves uniform population inversion and broadband rephasing, overcoming the limitations of transform-limited excitation. Experimentally, we observe a 3.2-fold enhancement of the PE signal in dense, self-assembled InAs QDs operating at telecom wavelengths. Numerical simulations based on a two-level model reproduce the experimentally observed ARP-induced enhancement, validating the underlying physical mechanism. These results establish ARP as an effective and scalable method for coherent control in THz-broadened QD ensembles, opening a pathway toward ultrafast and broadband optical quantum memory and communication in the telecom band.

Nanophotonics•Feb 1, 2026•0 citations

Femtosecond Regime Photon Echo with Quantum Dots Evaluated by Up-conversion Single-photon Detector

Yuta Kochi, Sunao Kurimura, Kouichi Akahane +1 more

Recently, quantum information processing and communications using photons have been attracting attention. To increase the density of transmitted photonic qubits, it is necessary to develop broadband quantum memories and detectors that can handle ultrashort pulses. Although rare-earth-ion doped quantum memories [1] have been widely studied, due to their storage bandwidth of ~GHz, they are incapable of storing ultrashort pulses. In our group, we used the photon echo (PE) method with quantum dots (QDs) to realize ultra-short femtosecond pulse storage. However, we encountered many difficulties in realizing this method such as low PE efficiency from the QDs and the insufficient temporal resolution of the avalanche single-photon detectors. To solve these problems, we have applied a new quantum control method and utilized an up-conversion single-photon detector (UCSPD) [2]. In this presentation, we will introduce the techniques “1. Time-resolving measurement by UCSPD,” “2. PE quantum memory using QDs” and “3. enhancement of PE signals.”

JSAP-OSA Joint Symposia•Jan 1, 2024•0 citations

Improved efficiency of generating femtosecond photon echoes from quantum dots using chirped pulses and time-resolved measurement by frequency up-conversion technique

Yuta Kochi, Yutaro Kinoshita, Sunao Kurimura +2 more

We developed a THz bandwidth quantum memory using a photon echo technique in InAs quantum dot ensemble with a large inhomogeneous broadning. To improve photon echo generation efficiency, we applied Adiabatic Rapid Passage (ARP) technique to quantum manipulation of quantum memory. In addition, we developed pulse pumped up conversion single photon detector (UCSPD) which enables us to achieve the femtosecond scale temporal resolution and we successfully demonstrated femtosecond time bin photon echo signals.

Ultrafast Phenomena and Nanophotonics•Mar 8, 2024•1 citation

Ultrafast Uniformed Quantum Manipulation with Chirped Pulses in InAs Quantum Dot Ensemble with Resonator

Yushiro Takahashi, Kotaro Miyauchi, Yutaro Kinoshita +2 more

An exciton in a quantum dot (QD) strongly couples to light, allowing the ultrafast manipulation of the quantum states on the order of femtoseconds [1]. Since a QD exciton can be regarded as a two-level system, the excitonic state can be manipulated coherently via Rabi oscillations depending on the electric field of the excitation pulse and the resonant frequency of the QD exciton. However, uniformly manipulating the exciton ensemble in a large number of QDs using ultrashort pulses is quite difficult due to the inhomogeneous distributions of the excitonic resonant frequency and the laser intensity for each QD. Adiabatic rapid passage (ARP) has been demonstrated to overcome this problem because it provides a quantum manipulation technique robust over the inhomogeneities [2], [3] by using chirped pulses (CP) instead of using Fourier transform-limited pulses (TLP). While ARP has been studied extensively in two-level systems with inhomogeneous linewidths up to GHz, it has not been rarely applied to two-level systems with THz inhomogeneous linewidths such as QDs. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate the ultrafast coherent transfer of the exciton population via ARP in two kinds of QD samples; 150-layer stacked InAs QDs and 50-layer stacked InAs QDs embedded in a resonator (Fig. 1(a)).

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 26, 2023•0 citations

Enhanced Femtosecond Photon Echo Generation From Inhomogeneous InAs Quantum Dots by Chirped Pulses

Yuta Kochi, Yutaro Kinoshita, Kouichi Akahane +1 more

We succeeded in enhancing photon echo generation efficiency from InAs quantum dots with a large inhomogeneous broadening by a factor of 3.2 using chirped pulses due to the robust quantum control. © 2024 The Author(s) OCIS codes: 160.6000, 210.4680.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Pacific Rim (CLEO-PR)•Aug 4, 2024•0 citations

Chirped Pulses Meet Quantum Dots: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Florian Kappe, Yusuf Karli, Grant R. Wilbur +10 more

Abstract Shaped laser pulses have been remarkably effective in investigating various aspects of light–matter interactions spanning a broad range of research. Chirped laser pulses exhibiting a time‐varying frequency, or quadratic spectral phase, form a crucial category in the group of shaped laser pulses. This type of pulses have made a ubiquitous presence from spectroscopic applications to developments in high‐power laser technology, and from nanophotonics to quantum optical communication, ever since their introduction. In the case of quantum technologies recently, substantial efforts are being invested toward achieving a truly scalable architecture. Concurrently, it is important to develop methods to produce robust photon sources. In this context, semiconductor quantum dots hold great potential, due to their exceptional photophysical properties and on‐demand operating nature. Concerning the scalability aspect of semiconductor quantum dots, it is advantageous to develop a simple, yet robust method to generate photon states from it. Chirped pulse excitation has been widely demonstrated as a robust and efficient state preparation scheme in quantum dots, thereby boosting its applicability as a stable photon source in a real‐world scenario. Despite the rapid growth and advancements in laser technologies, the generation and control of chirped laser pulses can be demanding. Here, an overview of a selected few approaches is presented to tailor and characterize chirped pulses for the efficient excitation of a quantum dot source. By taking the chirped‐pulse‐induced adiabatic rapid passage process in quantum dot as an example, numerical design examples are presented along with experimental advantages and challenges in each method and conclude with an outlook on future perspectives.

Advanced Quantum Technologies•Jan 9, 2024•19 citations
In quantum information technology, it is necessary to develop a light-matter quantum interface that transfers and stores quantum information. As a bandwidth of quantum entangled photon pairs used for quantum information increases, a quantum interface with broad bandwidth will be required. The combination of quantum dot (QD) ensemble and photon echo (PE) method is one of promising methods for broadband quantum interface. Since the bandwidth of the quantum interface using this method is limited only by the inhomogeneous width of the QDs, it is possible to implement a quantum interface with the bandwidth of 10 THz at telecommunication wavelength. However, in the PE method, the spatial inhomogeneousity of the laser intensity and the inhomogeneousity of the resonance frequency of the QDs result in the uniform quantum control of excitons in QDs. As a result, the regeneration efficiency of the PE light is significantly deteriorated. To solve this problem, it is effective to introduce a quantum control method using chirped pulses (Adaptive Rapid Passages; ARPs) which is robust to inhomogeneousities. In this study, we demonstrate that the regeneration efficiency of PE in inhomogeneous QDs can be improved by ARPs using femtosecond pulses. By performing numerical simulation and optical experiments, it was found that the regeneration efficiency improves as the chirp amount and the pulse area increase, and saturates at a certain condition.
Photon echo (PE) techniques offer a promising approach to optical quantum memory, yet their implementation in conventional platforms, such as rare-earth-ion-doped crystals, is hindered by limited bandwidths. Semiconductor quantum dot (QD) ensembles, featuring THz-scale inhomogeneous broadening and sub-picosecond dynamics, provide an attractive alternative for ultrafast applications. However, achieving coherent control across such broad spectral ranges remains challenging due to detuning and spatial field inhomogeneities, which reduce PE efficiency. In this work, we demonstrate that chirped rephasing pulses satisfying adiabatic conditions enable robust adiabatic rapid passage (ARP) across an inhomogeneously broadened InAs QD ensemble. This approach achieves uniform population inversion and broadband rephasing, overcoming the limitations of transform-limited excitation. Experimentally, we observe a 3.2-fold enhancement of the PE signal in dense, self-assembled InAs QDs operating at telecom wavelengths. Numerical simulations based on a two-level model reproduce the experimentally observed ARP-induced enhancement, validating the underlying physical mechanism. These results establish ARP as an effective and scalable method for coherent control in THz-broadened QD ensembles, opening a pathway toward ultrafast and broadband optical quantum memory and communication in the telecom band.
Recently, quantum information processing and communications using photons have been attracting attention. To increase the density of transmitted photonic qubits, it is necessary to develop broadband quantum memories and detectors that can handle ultrashort pulses. Although rare-earth-ion doped quantum memories [1] have been widely studied, due to their storage bandwidth of ~GHz, they are incapable of storing ultrashort pulses. In our group, we used the photon echo (PE) method with quantum dots (QDs) to realize ultra-short femtosecond pulse storage. However, we encountered many difficulties in realizing this method such as low PE efficiency from the QDs and the insufficient temporal resolution of the avalanche single-photon detectors. To solve these problems, we have applied a new quantum control method and utilized an up-conversion single-photon detector (UCSPD) [2]. In this presentation, we will introduce the techniques “1. Time-resolving measurement by UCSPD,” “2. PE quantum memory using QDs” and “3. enhancement of PE signals.”
We developed a THz bandwidth quantum memory using a photon echo technique in InAs quantum dot ensemble with a large inhomogeneous broadning. To improve photon echo generation efficiency, we applied Adiabatic Rapid Passage (ARP) technique to quantum manipulation of quantum memory. In addition, we developed pulse pumped up conversion single photon detector (UCSPD) which enables us to achieve the femtosecond scale temporal resolution and we successfully demonstrated femtosecond time bin photon echo signals.
An exciton in a quantum dot (QD) strongly couples to light, allowing the ultrafast manipulation of the quantum states on the order of femtoseconds [1]. Since a QD exciton can be regarded as a two-level system, the excitonic state can be manipulated coherently via Rabi oscillations depending on the electric field of the excitation pulse and the resonant frequency of the QD exciton. However, uniformly manipulating the exciton ensemble in a large number of QDs using ultrashort pulses is quite difficult due to the inhomogeneous distributions of the excitonic resonant frequency and the laser intensity for each QD. Adiabatic rapid passage (ARP) has been demonstrated to overcome this problem because it provides a quantum manipulation technique robust over the inhomogeneities [2], [3] by using chirped pulses (CP) instead of using Fourier transform-limited pulses (TLP). While ARP has been studied extensively in two-level systems with inhomogeneous linewidths up to GHz, it has not been rarely applied to two-level systems with THz inhomogeneous linewidths such as QDs. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate the ultrafast coherent transfer of the exciton population via ARP in two kinds of QD samples; 150-layer stacked InAs QDs and 50-layer stacked InAs QDs embedded in a resonator (Fig. 1(a)).
Abstract Shaped laser pulses have been remarkably effective in investigating various aspects of light–matter interactions spanning a broad range of research. Chirped laser pulses exhibiting a time‐varying frequency, or quadratic spectral phase, form a crucial category in the group of shaped laser pulses. This type of pulses have made a ubiquitous presence from spectroscopic applications to developments in high‐power laser technology, and from nanophotonics to quantum optical communication, ever since their introduction. In the case of quantum technologies recently, substantial efforts are being invested toward achieving a truly scalable architecture. Concurrently, it is important to develop methods to produce robust photon sources. In this context, semiconductor quantum dots hold great potential, due to their exceptional photophysical properties and on‐demand operating nature. Concerning the scalability aspect of semiconductor quantum dots, it is advantageous to develop a simple, yet robust method to generate photon states from it. Chirped pulse excitation has been widely demonstrated as a robust and efficient state preparation scheme in quantum dots, thereby boosting its applicability as a stable photon source in a real‐world scenario. Despite the rapid growth and advancements in laser technologies, the generation and control of chirped laser pulses can be demanding. Here, an overview of a selected few approaches is presented to tailor and characterize chirped pulses for the efficient excitation of a quantum dot source. By taking the chirped‐pulse‐induced adiabatic rapid passage process in quantum dot as an example, numerical design examples are presented along with experimental advantages and challenges in each method and conclude with an outlook on future perspectives.