Generating indistinguishable photons from a quantum dot in a noisy environment

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that resonance fluorescence can produce highly indistinguishable photons from a quantum dot even in a noisy environment with charge fluctuations, overcoming environmental challenges.

Contribution

The study shows that resonance fluorescence enables high-visibility two-photon interference from quantum dots in fluctuating environments, advancing quantum photonics applications.

Findings

High-visibility two-photon interference achieved despite spectral flickering.

Resonance fluorescence maintains photon indistinguishability in noisy conditions.

Photon count rates are reduced over long timescales due to spectral fluctuations.

Abstract

Single photons from semiconductor quantum dots are promising resources for linear optical quantum computing, or, when coupled to spin states, quantum repeaters. To realize such schemes, the photons must exhibit a high degree of indistinguishability. However, the solid-state environment presents inherent obstacles for this requirement as intrinsic semiconductor fluctuations can destroy the photon indistinguishability. Here we use resonance fluorescence to generate indistinguishable photons from a single quantum dot in an environment filled with many charge-fluctuating traps. Over long time-scales ($>50$ $\mu$s), flickering of the emission due to significant spectral fluctuations reduce the count rates. Nevertheless, due to the specificity of resonance fluorescence, high-visibility two-photon interference is achieved.