Single photon absorption and dynamic control of a coupled quantum dot-cavity system

TL;DR

This paper models the interaction of single photons with a quantum dot-cavity system, demonstrating near-perfect absorption and dynamic control of quantum states, which advances quantum information processing capabilities.

Contribution

It introduces a wavefunction simulation approach to analyze single photon absorption and control in a quantum dot-cavity system near the strong-weak coupling boundary.

Findings

Achieves near-unity photon absorption probability

Demonstrates electric field control to freeze light-matter interaction

Identifies limitations due to photon pulse chirping

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the dynamic interaction of a quantum dot in a nanocavity with timesymmetric single photon pulses. The simulations, based on a wavefunction approach, reveal that almost perfect single photon absorption occurs for quantum dot-cavity systems operating on the edge between strong and weak coupling regime. The computed maximum absorptions probability is close to unity for pulses with a typical length comparable to the half of the Rabi period. Furthermore, the dynamic control of the quantum dot energy via electric fields allows the freezing of the light-matter interaction leaving the quantum dot in its excited state. Shaping of single photon wavepackets by the electric field control is limited by the occurrence of chirping of the single photon pulse. This understanding of the interaction of single photon pulses with the quantum dot-cavity system provides the basis for the development of advanced protocols for quantum information processing in the solid state.