A highly efficient single photon-single quantum dot interface

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a highly efficient quantum dot-photon interface using cavity quantum electrodynamics, achieving record brightness and indistinguishability of single photons for quantum network applications.

Contribution

It introduces optimized cavity quantum electrodynamics techniques to enhance quantum dot-photon interfaces, including record brightness and indistinguishability of emitted photons.

Findings

Record brightness of 79% for single photon sources

High indistinguishability of emitted photons

Demonstration of optical nonlinearities at few-photon levels

Abstract

Semiconductor quantum dots are a promising system to build a solid state quantum network. A critical step in this area is to build an efficient interface between a stationary quantum bit and a flying one. In this chapter, we show how cavity quantum electrodynamics allows us to efficiently interface a single quantum dot with a propagating electromagnetic field. Beyond the well known Purcell factor, we discuss the various parameters that need to be optimized to build such an interface. We then review our recent progresses in terms of fabrication of bright sources of indistinguishable single photons, where a record brightness of 79% is obtained as well as a high degree of indistinguishability of the emitted photons. Symmetrically, optical nonlinearities at the very few photon level are demonstrated, by sending few photon pulses at a quantum dot-cavity device operating in the strong coupling regime. Perspectives and future challenges are briefly discussed.