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

Active Photonic Platforms (APP)

Hybrid quantum photonics: plasmonic speedup and single-photon emitters in SiN

Alexander V. Senichev, Zachariah O. Martin, Samuel Peana, Ömer Yeşilyurt, Demid Sychev, Xiaohui Xu, Alexei Lagutchev, Alexandra E. Boltasseva, Vladimir M. Shalaev

Published Sep 30, 2022• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Our group recently discovered bright, stable, linearly polarized, and high-purity sources of single-photon emission at room temperature in SiN. Currently, we study the possibility of generating indistinguishable photons by plasmonic speed-up of photoemission, which may enable broader applications of SiN single-photon sources in quantum information technology. The enhancement of the light-matter interaction with plasmonic materials can shorten the spontaneous emission time to beat the dephasing time and achieve coherence even at non-cryogenic temperatures. Our findings spark further studies of quantum emitters toward deeper understanding of their nature, deterministic formation, and scalable integration with on-chip quantum photonic circuitry.

DOI
10.1117/12.2632726

Related papers

Silicon Nitride Waveguides with Intrinsic Single-Photon Emitters for Integrated Quantum Photonics

Alexander V. Senichev, Samuel Peana, Zachariah O. Martin +5 more

The recent discovery of room-temperature intrinsic single-photon emitters in silicon nitride (SiN) 1 provides a unique opportunity for seamless monolithic integration of quantum light sources with the well-established SiN photonic platform. In this work, we successfully demonstrate the integration of intrinsic quantum emitters with planar waveguides composed of low-autofluorescence SiN and demonstrate single-photon emission coupling into the waveguide mode. The coupling of single-photon emission to the waveguide mode is confirmed by second-order autocorrelation measurements of light outcoupled off the photonic chip by grating couplers. Fitting the second-order autocorrelation histogram yields g (2) (0) = 0.15 ± 0.09 without spectral filtering or background correction, the outcoupled photon rate derived from saturation measurements is found to be 6 × 10 3 counts per second. This demonstrates the first successful coupling of photons from monolithically integrated SiN intrinsic single-photon emitters with waveguides composed of the same material. The results of our work pave the way toward the realization of scalable, technology-ready quantum photonic integrated circuitry efficiently interfaced with solid-state quantum emitters.

arXiv:2205.08481•ACS Photonics•Sep 13, 2022•57 citations

Nanoplasmonics as Enabler of Room-Temperature Quantum Nanophotonic Networks

Ortwin G. Hess

Quantum technologies are widely expected to bring a revolution in communications and information technologies in the coming decade allowing, for example, un-paralleled levels of secure communications. For quantum communication, photonic quantum effects have played a central role, but most photonic solutions and systems based on light-matter interaction also require cryogenic environments. Strong coupling of light and matter at the single emitter level is a fundamental quantum resource offering deterministic energy exchange between single photons and a two-level system, and the possibility to achieve single-photon nonlinearities via the anharmonicity of the Jaynes-Cummings ladder. Until recently, however, the conditions for achieving strong-coupling were most commonly met at cryogenic temperatures such that de-coherence processes are suppressed. As a major step forward, we have recently demonstrated room-temperature strong coupling of single molecules [1] and single quantum dots [2] to ultra-confined light fields in plasmonic resonators at ambient conditions. The fact that strong-coupling conditions may be reached at room temperature is of immense interest because it represents a clear route to a practical implementation and use of quantum behaviour in nanophotonic systems and its application in bio-sensing [3]. The talk will discuss how nanoplasmonics can be an enabler of ultrafast room-temperature quantum nanophotonic networks via strong coupling and ultrafast quantum dynamics [4]. We will highlight the physics associated with recently demonstrated room-temperature strong coupling of single molecules in a plasmonic nano-cavity [1] and near-field generated strong coupling of single quantum dots [2] and single quantum emitter Dicke enhancement [5] paving the road towards single-photon quantum nonlinearities. The presentation will also explain near-field enhanced single-photon emission in near-zero index materials [6] and ultrafast multi-partite quantum entanglement [7]. This provides the foundation for unprecedented control over photon number, single photon dynamics, and dynamic multi-photon coherence. These properties are all imperative for the development of next-generation, nanoscale building blocks in ambient-temperature photonic quantum communication technologies.

International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks•Jul 2, 2023•0 citations

Optimizing the spontaneous-emission ß factor for single optical plasmon generation

Yahong Chen, Torben Roland Nielsen, Niels Gregersen +2 more

In applications like quantum cryptography and quantum computation, it is desirable to obtain single photon sources which can produce a train of single photons on demand at a high repetition rate, especially at or near room temperature. Such single-photon sources can be realized by tailoring the photonic environment of the quantum emitter. The photonic environment determines the local density of states, into which the photon can be emitted. A number of structures such as interfaces, cavities and waveguides have already been used to modify the spontaneous emission (SE) rate; nevertheless there is still room for improving the overall efficiency of the single-photon sources, e.g., by inventing new ways of enhancing light-matter interaction.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 1, 2009•0 citations

Room-temperature plexcitonic strong coupling: Ultrafast dynamics for quantum applications

Xiao Xiong, Nuttawut Kongsuwan, Yiming Lai +3 more

Strong light–matter interaction is at the heart of modern quantum technological applications and is the basis for a wide range of rich optical phenomena. Coupling a single quantum emitter strongly with electromagnetic fields provides an unprecedented control over its quantum states and enables high-fidelity quantum operations. However, single-emitter strong coupling is exceptionally fragile and has been realized mostly at cryogenic temperatures. Recent experiments have, however, demonstrated that single-emitter strong coupling can be realized at room temperature by using plasmonic nanocavities that confine optical fields via surface plasmons strongly on metal surfaces and facilitate sub-picosecond light–matter interaction. Here, we outline recent theoretical developments and experimental demonstrations of room-temperature strong coupling in the plasmonic platform, from emitter ensembles down to the single emitter limit, before placing a focus on selective studies that explore and provide insight into applications of plexcitonic strong coupling including sensing of single biological molecules, qubit entanglement generation, and reconfigurable single-photon sources and provide an outline of research directions in quantum sensing, quantum information processing, and ultrafast spectroscopy.

Applied Physics Letters•Mar 29, 2021•40 citations

Room-Temperature Silicon Nitride Quantum Emitters for Advancing Quantum Key Distribution

Alexander V. Senichev, Zachariah O. Martin, Samuel Peana +4 more

Newly discovered silicon nitride quantum emitters hold great promise for industrial-scale quantum photonic applications. We assess the performance of intrinsic room-temperature SiN single-photon emitters for quantum key distribution, showcasing their exceptional brightness and single-photon purity.

•Jan 1, 2024•0 citations

Single-photon generation and manipulation in quantum nanophotonics

Guangxin Liu, Wenjie Zhou, Dmitrii Gromyko +7 more

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.

Applied Physics Reviews•Jan 24, 2025•30 citations
Our group recently discovered bright, stable, linearly polarized, and high-purity sources of single-photon emission at room temperature in SiN. Currently, we study the possibility of generating indistinguishable photons by plasmonic speed-up of photoemission, which may enable broader applications of SiN single-photon sources in quantum information technology. The enhancement of the light-matter interaction with plasmonic materials can shorten the spontaneous emission time to beat the dephasing time and achieve coherence even at non-cryogenic temperatures. Our findings spark further studies of quantum emitters toward deeper understanding of their nature, deterministic formation, and scalable integration with on-chip quantum photonic circuitry.
The recent discovery of room-temperature intrinsic single-photon emitters in silicon nitride (SiN) 1 provides a unique opportunity for seamless monolithic integration of quantum light sources with the well-established SiN photonic platform. In this work, we successfully demonstrate the integration of intrinsic quantum emitters with planar waveguides composed of low-autofluorescence SiN and demonstrate single-photon emission coupling into the waveguide mode. The coupling of single-photon emission to the waveguide mode is confirmed by second-order autocorrelation measurements of light outcoupled off the photonic chip by grating couplers. Fitting the second-order autocorrelation histogram yields g (2) (0) = 0.15 ± 0.09 without spectral filtering or background correction, the outcoupled photon rate derived from saturation measurements is found to be 6 × 10 3 counts per second. This demonstrates the first successful coupling of photons from monolithically integrated SiN intrinsic single-photon emitters with waveguides composed of the same material. The results of our work pave the way toward the realization of scalable, technology-ready quantum photonic integrated circuitry efficiently interfaced with solid-state quantum emitters.
Quantum technologies are widely expected to bring a revolution in communications and information technologies in the coming decade allowing, for example, un-paralleled levels of secure communications. For quantum communication, photonic quantum effects have played a central role, but most photonic solutions and systems based on light-matter interaction also require cryogenic environments. Strong coupling of light and matter at the single emitter level is a fundamental quantum resource offering deterministic energy exchange between single photons and a two-level system, and the possibility to achieve single-photon nonlinearities via the anharmonicity of the Jaynes-Cummings ladder. Until recently, however, the conditions for achieving strong-coupling were most commonly met at cryogenic temperatures such that de-coherence processes are suppressed. As a major step forward, we have recently demonstrated room-temperature strong coupling of single molecules [1] and single quantum dots [2] to ultra-confined light fields in plasmonic resonators at ambient conditions. The fact that strong-coupling conditions may be reached at room temperature is of immense interest because it represents a clear route to a practical implementation and use of quantum behaviour in nanophotonic systems and its application in bio-sensing [3]. The talk will discuss how nanoplasmonics can be an enabler of ultrafast room-temperature quantum nanophotonic networks via strong coupling and ultrafast quantum dynamics [4]. We will highlight the physics associated with recently demonstrated room-temperature strong coupling of single molecules in a plasmonic nano-cavity [1] and near-field generated strong coupling of single quantum dots [2] and single quantum emitter Dicke enhancement [5] paving the road towards single-photon quantum nonlinearities. The presentation will also explain near-field enhanced single-photon emission in near-zero index materials [6] and ultrafast multi-partite quantum entanglement [7]. This provides the foundation for unprecedented control over photon number, single photon dynamics, and dynamic multi-photon coherence. These properties are all imperative for the development of next-generation, nanoscale building blocks in ambient-temperature photonic quantum communication technologies.
In applications like quantum cryptography and quantum computation, it is desirable to obtain single photon sources which can produce a train of single photons on demand at a high repetition rate, especially at or near room temperature. Such single-photon sources can be realized by tailoring the photonic environment of the quantum emitter. The photonic environment determines the local density of states, into which the photon can be emitted. A number of structures such as interfaces, cavities and waveguides have already been used to modify the spontaneous emission (SE) rate; nevertheless there is still room for improving the overall efficiency of the single-photon sources, e.g., by inventing new ways of enhancing light-matter interaction.
Strong light–matter interaction is at the heart of modern quantum technological applications and is the basis for a wide range of rich optical phenomena. Coupling a single quantum emitter strongly with electromagnetic fields provides an unprecedented control over its quantum states and enables high-fidelity quantum operations. However, single-emitter strong coupling is exceptionally fragile and has been realized mostly at cryogenic temperatures. Recent experiments have, however, demonstrated that single-emitter strong coupling can be realized at room temperature by using plasmonic nanocavities that confine optical fields via surface plasmons strongly on metal surfaces and facilitate sub-picosecond light–matter interaction. Here, we outline recent theoretical developments and experimental demonstrations of room-temperature strong coupling in the plasmonic platform, from emitter ensembles down to the single emitter limit, before placing a focus on selective studies that explore and provide insight into applications of plexcitonic strong coupling including sensing of single biological molecules, qubit entanglement generation, and reconfigurable single-photon sources and provide an outline of research directions in quantum sensing, quantum information processing, and ultrafast spectroscopy.
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.