Semiconductor quantum dots embedded in micropillar cavities are excellent emitters of single photons when pumped resonantly. Often, the same spatial mode is used to both resonantly excite a quantum-dot state and to collect the emitted single photons, requiring cross polarization to reduce the uncoupled scattered laser light. This inherently reduces the source brightness to 50%. Critically, for some quantum applications the total efficiency from generation to detection must be over 50%. Here, we demonstrate a resonant-excitation approach to creating single photons that is free of any cross polarization, and in fact any filtering whatsoever. It potentially increases single-photon rates and collection efficiencies, and simplifies operation. This integrated device allows us to resonantly excite single quantum-dot states in several cavities in the plane of the device using connected waveguides, while the cavity-enhanced single-photon fluorescence is directed vertically (off-chip) in a Gaussian mode. We expect this design to be a prototype for larger chip-scale quantum photonics.
Motivated by recent advances in the development of single photon emitters for quantum information sciences, here we design and formulate a quantum cascade model that describes cascade emission by a quantum dot (QD) in a cavity structure while preserving entanglement that stores information needed for single photon emission. The theoretical approach is based on a photonic structure that consists of two orthogonal cavities in which resonance with either the first or second of the two emitted photons is possible, leading to amplification and rerouting of the entangled light. The cavity–QD scheme uses a four-level cascade emitter that involves three levels for each polarization, leading to two spatially entangled photons for each polarization. By solving the Schrodinger equation, we identify the characteristic properties of the system, which can be used in conjunction with optimization techniques to achieve the “best” design relative to a set of prioritized criteria or constraints in our optical system. The theoretical investigations include an analysis of emission spectra in addition to the joint spectral density profile, and the results demonstrate the ability of the cavities to act as frequency filters for the photons that make up the entanglements and to modify entanglement properties. The results provide new opportunities for the experimental design and engineering of on-demand single photon sources.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 2055565
- PAR ID:
- 10406373
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Institute of Physics
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Journal of Chemical Physics
- Volume:
- 158
- Issue:
- 14
- ISSN:
- 0021-9606
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- Article No. 144106
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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