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European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)

Observation of Single-Photon Superradiance from a Quantum Dot

Petru Tighineanu, Raphaël S. Daveau, Tau Bernstorff Lehmann, Harvey E. Beere, D. A. Ritchie, Peter Lodahl, Søren Stobbe

Published Jun 21, 2015• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Enhancing the interaction between quantum emitters and light is an ongoing quest in quantum physics. The realization of efficient photonic nanostructures has led to remarkable progress in manipulating single quanta of light and matter [1]. Here we demonstrate another approach to enhancing light-matter interaction [2], single-photon superradiance (SPS), which is achieved by storing a single quantum of energy in the collective state of a weakly confining quantum dot. The superradiant state is prepared deterministically with a single laser pulse and leads to the generation of a single photon with near-unity probability. Our work emphasizes the extraordinary potential of weakly confining quantum dots for improving the radiative efficiency, coherence, and quantum nonlinearities of single-photon sources that may readily be embedded in nanophotonic quantum devices.

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Single-Photon Superradiance from a Quantum Dot

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Enhancing the interaction between quantum emitters and light is an ongoing quest in quantum physics. The realization of efficient photonic nanostructures has led to remarkable progress in manipulating single quanta of light and matter [1]. Here we demonstrate another approach to enhancing light-matter interaction [2], single-photon superradiance (SPS), which is achieved by storing a single quantum of energy in the collective state of a weakly confining quantum dot. The superradiant state is prepared deterministically with a single laser pulse and leads to the generation of a single photon with near-unity probability. Our work emphasizes the extraordinary potential of weakly confining quantum dots for improving the radiative efficiency, coherence, and quantum nonlinearities of single-photon sources that may readily be embedded in nanophotonic quantum devices.
We report on the observation of single-photon superradiance from an exciton in a semiconductor quantum dot. The confinement by the quantum dot is strong enough for it to mimic a two-level atom, yet sufficiently weak to ensure superradiance. The electrostatic interaction between the electron and the hole comprising the exciton gives rise to an anharmonic spectrum, which we exploit to prepare the superradiant quantum state deterministically with a laser pulse. We observe a fivefold enhancement of the oscillator strength compared to conventional quantum dots. The enhancement is limited by the base temperature of our cryostat and may lead to oscillator strengths above 1000 from a single quantum emitter at optical frequencies.
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.
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.
The strong confinement of semiconductor excitons in a quantum dot gives rise to atomlike behavior. The full benefit of such a structure is best observed in resonant excitation where the excited state can be deterministically populated and coherently manipulated. Because of the large refractive index and device geometry it remains challenging to observe resonantly excited emission that is free from laser scattering in III/V self-assembled quantum dots. Here we exploit the biexciton binding energy to create an extremely clean single photon source via two-photon resonant excitation of an InAs/GaAs quantum dot. We observe complete suppression of the excitation laser and multiphoton emissions. Additionally, we perform full coherent control of the ground-biexciton state qubit and observe an extended coherence time using an all-optical echo technique. The deterministic coherent photon pair creation makes this system suitable for the generation of time-bin entanglement and experiments on the interaction of photons from dissimilar sources.
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.
Abstract Quantum dots (QDs) embedded in photonic nanostructures have in recent years proven to be a very powerful solid-state platform for quantum optics experiments. The combination of near-unity radiative coupling of a single QD to a photonic mode and the ability to eliminate decoherence processes imply that an unprecedent light–matter interface can be obtained. As a result, high-cooperativity photon-emitter quantum interfaces can be constructed opening a path-way to deterministic photonic quantum gates for quantum-information processing applications. In the present manuscript, I review current state-of-the-art on QD devices and their applications for quantum technology. The overarching long-term goal of the research field is to construct photonic quantum networks where remote entanglement can be distributed over long distances by photons.