Polarization Properties of Single Quantum Dots in Nanowires

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the polarization of light emitted or absorbed by single quantum dots in nanowires depends on nanowire orientation, with implications for quantum photonic applications like entangled photon generation.

Contribution

It provides new insights into polarization behavior of nanowire quantum dots and demonstrates optical access to their spin states, advancing quantum photonics technology.

Findings

Polarization depends on nanowire orientation.

Perpendicular excitation yields linear polarization.

Optical access to spin states demonstrated.

Abstract

We study the absorption and emission polarization of single semiconductor quantum dots in semiconductor nanowires. We show that the polarization of light absorbed or emitted by a nanowire quantum dot strongly depends on the orientation of the nanowire with respect to the directions along which light is incident or emitted. Light is preferentially linearly polarized when directed perpendicular to the nanowire elongation. In contrast, the degree of linear polarization is low for light directed along the nanowire. This result is vital for photonic applications based on intrinsic properties of quantum dots, such as generation of entangled photons. As an example, we demonstrate optical access to the spin states of a single nanowire quantum dot.