Single photons from coupled quantum modes

TL;DR

This paper explores how coupled quantum modes can serve as effective single photon sources, even with modest nonlinearities, by leveraging strong sensitivity at the single quantum level in solid-state systems.

Contribution

It demonstrates that coupled quantum modes can enable single photon emission in systems with weak nonlinearities, expanding potential implementations.

Findings

Coupled quantum modes exhibit strong single-photon sensitivity.

Solid-state implementations like polariton tunneling can act as single photon emitters.

Modest nonlinearities suffice for single photon emission in coupled systems.

Abstract

Single photon emitters often rely on a strong nonlinearity to make the behaviour of a quantum mode susceptible to a change in the number of quanta between one and two. In most systems the strength of nonlinearity is weak, such that changes at the single quantum level have little effect. Here, we consider coupled quantum modes and and that they can be strongly sensitive at the single quantum level, even if nonlinear interactions are modest. As examples, we consider solid-state implementations based on the tunneling of polaritons between quantum boxes or their parametric modes in a microcavity. We find that these systems can act as promising single photon emitters.