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

Optica

Real-time two-photon interference from distinct molecules on the same chip

Rocco Duquennoy, Maja Colautti, R. Emadi, Prosenjit Majumder, Pietro Lombardi, Costanza Toninelli

Published Apr 22, 2022• 25 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Scalability and miniaturization are hallmarks of solid-state platforms for photonic quantum technologies. Still a main challenge is two-photon interference from distinct emitters on chip. This requires local tuning, integration, and novel approaches to understand and tame noise processes. A promising platform is that of molecular single-photon sources. Thousands of molecules with optically tunable emission frequency can be easily isolated in solid matrices and triggered with pulsed excitation. We here discuss Hong–Ou–Mandel interference experiments using several couples of molecules within few tens of microns. Quantum interference is observed in real time, enabling the analysis of local environment effects at different time scales.

DOI
10.1364/optica.452317

Related papers

Real-time two-photon interference from distinct molecules on the same chip

Rocco Duquennoy, M. Colautti, R. Emadi +3 more

Scalability and miniaturization are hallmarks of solid-state platforms for photonic quantum technologies. Still a main challenge is two-photon interference from distinct emitters on chip. This requires local tuning, integration and novel approaches to understand and tame noise processes. A promising platform is that of molecular single photon sources. Thousands of molecules with optically tuneable emission frequency can be easily isolated in solid matrices and triggered with pulsed excitation. We here discuss Hong-Ou-Mandel interference experiments using several couples of molecules within few tens of microns. Quantum interference is observed in real time, enabling the analysis of local environment effects at different time-scales.

arXiv:2201.07140•Jan 18, 2022•0 citations

Hong-Ou-Mandel interference from distinct molecules on the same chip

Maja Colautti, Davide Bacco, Rocco Duquennoy +8 more

A major challenge in photonic quantum technologies is two-photon interference from distinct quantum emitters on the same chip. Here, we show and discuss recent results on Hong–Ou–Mandel interference experiments using couples of single organic molecules within few tens of microns, yielding post-selected visibilities of up to 97%. In particular, we discuss the potential interest for future realizations of measurement-device independent quantum key distribution protocols for information-theoretic secure communication.

Quantum Computing, Communication, and Simulation•Mar 8, 2023•0 citations

Triggered emission of indistinguishable photons from an organic dye molecule

Pietro Lombardi, Maja Colautti, Rocco Duquennoy +3 more

Single molecules in solid state matrices have been proposed as sources of single photon Fock states back 20 years ago. Their success in quantum optics and in many other research fields stems from the simple recipes used in the preparation of samples, with hundreds of nominally identical and isolated molecules. Main challenges as of today for their application in photonic quantum technologies are the optimization of light extraction and the on-demand emission of indistinguishable photons. We here present Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) experiments with photons emitted by a single molecule of dibenzoterrylene in an anthracene nanocrystal at 3 K, under continuous wave and also pulsed excitation. A detailed theoretical model is applied, which relies on independent measurements for most experimental parameters, hence allowing for an analysis of the different contributions to the two-photon interference visibility, from residual dephasing to spectral filtering. A HOM interference visibility of more than 75% is reported, which, according to the model, is limited by the residual dephasing present at the operating temperature.

Applied Physics Letters•May 17, 2021•36 citations

Scalable Quantum Interference from Indistinguishable Quantum Dots

Sheena Shaji, Suraj Goel, Julian Wiercinski +7 more

Quantum interference of indistinguishable photons is the foundation of photonic quantum technologies, yet scaling from a few to many identical quantum light sources remains a major challenge. In solid-state platforms, spatial and spectral inhomogeneity and resource-intensive architectures impede scaling. As a result, interference between remote, independent quantum emitters has been thus far limited to pairs. Here we introduce a wavefront-shaping approach that enables scalable interference from multiple indistinguishable quantum dots on the same chip. Using programmable spatial light modulators, we independently excite, collect, and route emission from spatially distinct, yet spectrally degenerate dots. Scaling from two to five indistinguishable emitters, we verify interference through cooperative-emission phenomena and Hong-Ou-Mandel two-photon interference, thereby establishing a route towards large-scale, programmable quantum photonic architectures.

quant-pharXiv:2603.25684•Mar 27, 2026•0 citations

Indistinguishable photons on demand from an organic dye molecule

Pietro Lombardi, Maja Colautti, Rocco Duquennoy +3 more

Single molecules in solid-state matrices have been proposed as sources of single-photon Fock states back 20 years ago. Their success in quantum optics and in many other research fields stems from the simple recipes used in the preparation of samples, with hundreds of nominally identical and isolated molecules. Main challenges as of today for their application in photonic quantum technologies are the optimization of light extraction and the on-demand emission of indistinguishable photons. We here present Hong-Ou-Mandel experiments with photons emitted by a single molecule of dibenzoterrylene in an anthracene nanocrystal at 3 K, under continuous wave and also pulsed excitation. A detailed theoretical model is applied, which relies on independent measurements for most experimental parameters, hence allowing for an analysis of the different contributions to the two-photon interference visibility, from residual dephasing to spectral filtering.

arXiv:2102.13055•Feb 25, 2021•1 citation

Molecules as sources for indistinguishable single photons

Ville Ahtee, R. Lettow, R. Pfab +4 more

We report on the triggered generation of identical photons by solid-state single-photon sources in two separate cryogenic laser scanning microscopes. Organic fluorescent molecules were used as emitters and investigated by means of high resolution laser spectroscopy. Continuous-wave photon correlation measurements on individual molecules proved the isolation of single quantum systems. By using frequency selective pulsed excitation of the molecule and efficient spectral filtering of its emission, we produced triggered Fourier-limited single photons. In a further step, local electric fields were applied to match the emission wavelengths of two different molecules via Stark effect. Identical single photons are indispensable for the realization of various quantum information processing schemes proposed. The solid-state approach presented here paves the way to the integration of multiple bright sources of single photons on a single chip.

arXiv:0810.4258•Journal of Modern Optics•Jan 16, 2009•18 citations
Scalability and miniaturization are hallmarks of solid-state platforms for photonic quantum technologies. Still a main challenge is two-photon interference from distinct emitters on chip. This requires local tuning, integration, and novel approaches to understand and tame noise processes. A promising platform is that of molecular single-photon sources. Thousands of molecules with optically tunable emission frequency can be easily isolated in solid matrices and triggered with pulsed excitation. We here discuss Hong–Ou–Mandel interference experiments using several couples of molecules within few tens of microns. Quantum interference is observed in real time, enabling the analysis of local environment effects at different time scales.
Scalability and miniaturization are hallmarks of solid-state platforms for photonic quantum technologies. Still a main challenge is two-photon interference from distinct emitters on chip. This requires local tuning, integration and novel approaches to understand and tame noise processes. A promising platform is that of molecular single photon sources. Thousands of molecules with optically tuneable emission frequency can be easily isolated in solid matrices and triggered with pulsed excitation. We here discuss Hong-Ou-Mandel interference experiments using several couples of molecules within few tens of microns. Quantum interference is observed in real time, enabling the analysis of local environment effects at different time-scales.
A major challenge in photonic quantum technologies is two-photon interference from distinct quantum emitters on the same chip. Here, we show and discuss recent results on Hong–Ou–Mandel interference experiments using couples of single organic molecules within few tens of microns, yielding post-selected visibilities of up to 97%. In particular, we discuss the potential interest for future realizations of measurement-device independent quantum key distribution protocols for information-theoretic secure communication.
Single molecules in solid state matrices have been proposed as sources of single photon Fock states back 20 years ago. Their success in quantum optics and in many other research fields stems from the simple recipes used in the preparation of samples, with hundreds of nominally identical and isolated molecules. Main challenges as of today for their application in photonic quantum technologies are the optimization of light extraction and the on-demand emission of indistinguishable photons. We here present Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) experiments with photons emitted by a single molecule of dibenzoterrylene in an anthracene nanocrystal at 3 K, under continuous wave and also pulsed excitation. A detailed theoretical model is applied, which relies on independent measurements for most experimental parameters, hence allowing for an analysis of the different contributions to the two-photon interference visibility, from residual dephasing to spectral filtering. A HOM interference visibility of more than 75% is reported, which, according to the model, is limited by the residual dephasing present at the operating temperature.
Quantum interference of indistinguishable photons is the foundation of photonic quantum technologies, yet scaling from a few to many identical quantum light sources remains a major challenge. In solid-state platforms, spatial and spectral inhomogeneity and resource-intensive architectures impede scaling. As a result, interference between remote, independent quantum emitters has been thus far limited to pairs. Here we introduce a wavefront-shaping approach that enables scalable interference from multiple indistinguishable quantum dots on the same chip. Using programmable spatial light modulators, we independently excite, collect, and route emission from spatially distinct, yet spectrally degenerate dots. Scaling from two to five indistinguishable emitters, we verify interference through cooperative-emission phenomena and Hong-Ou-Mandel two-photon interference, thereby establishing a route towards large-scale, programmable quantum photonic architectures.
Single molecules in solid-state matrices have been proposed as sources of single-photon Fock states back 20 years ago. Their success in quantum optics and in many other research fields stems from the simple recipes used in the preparation of samples, with hundreds of nominally identical and isolated molecules. Main challenges as of today for their application in photonic quantum technologies are the optimization of light extraction and the on-demand emission of indistinguishable photons. We here present Hong-Ou-Mandel experiments with photons emitted by a single molecule of dibenzoterrylene in an anthracene nanocrystal at 3 K, under continuous wave and also pulsed excitation. A detailed theoretical model is applied, which relies on independent measurements for most experimental parameters, hence allowing for an analysis of the different contributions to the two-photon interference visibility, from residual dephasing to spectral filtering.
We report on the triggered generation of identical photons by solid-state single-photon sources in two separate cryogenic laser scanning microscopes. Organic fluorescent molecules were used as emitters and investigated by means of high resolution laser spectroscopy. Continuous-wave photon correlation measurements on individual molecules proved the isolation of single quantum systems. By using frequency selective pulsed excitation of the molecule and efficient spectral filtering of its emission, we produced triggered Fourier-limited single photons. In a further step, local electric fields were applied to match the emission wavelengths of two different molecules via Stark effect. Identical single photons are indispensable for the realization of various quantum information processing schemes proposed. The solid-state approach presented here paves the way to the integration of multiple bright sources of single photons on a single chip.