Efficient spectroscopy of single embedded emitters using optical fiber taper waveguides

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through simulations that optical fiber taper waveguides can significantly improve the efficiency of spectroscopy for single embedded emitters in thin membranes, surpassing traditional free-space methods.

Contribution

The study introduces a fiber taper waveguide technique that enhances photoluminescence collection efficiency for single emitters in thin dielectric membranes.

Findings

Photoluminescence collection efficiency exceeds 10%.

Efficiency surpasses standard free-space collection by an order of magnitude.

Suitable for spectroscopy of single quantum dots in semiconductor membranes.

Abstract

A technique based on using optical fiber taper waveguides for probing single emitters embedded in thin dielectric membranes is assessed through numerical simulations. For an appropriate membrane geometry, photoluminescence collection efficiencies in excess of 10 % are predicted, exceeding the efficiency of standard free-space collection by an order of magnitude. Our results indicate that these fiber taper waveguides offer excellent prospects for performing efficient spectroscopy of single emitters embedded in thin films, such as a single self-assembled quantum dot in a semiconductor membrane.