Physics of quantum light emitters in disordered photonic nanostructures

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in disordered photonic nanostructures, emphasizing how fabrication imperfections can enhance light-matter interactions for quantum photonics applications, contrasting with traditional design-focused approaches.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of how disorder in nanostructures can be harnessed to improve quantum light emission and interaction, highlighting new functional possibilities.

Findings

Disorder can enhance light-matter interaction in nanostructures.

Multiple scattering in disordered media enables novel quantum photonics functionalities.

Recent progress demonstrates potential for disorder-induced quantum photonic devices.

Abstract

Nanophotonics focuses on the control of light and the interaction with matter by the aid of intricate nanostructures. Typically, a photonic nanostructure is carefully designed for a specific application and any imperfections may reduce its performance, i.e., a thorough investigation of the role of unavoidable fabrication imperfections is essential for any application. However, another approach to nanophotonic applications exists where fabrication disorder is used to induce functionalities by enhancing light-matter interaction. Disorder leads to multiple scattering of light, which is the realm of statistical optics where light propagation requires a statistical description. We review here the recent progress on disordered photonic nanostructures and the potential implications for quantum photonics devices.