Limitations on the indistinguishability of photons from remote solid state sources

TL;DR

This paper develops a formalism to predict two-photon interference visibility from remote solid-state quantum emitters, accounting for dephasing, spectral diffusion, and other realistic effects impacting photon indistinguishability.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive theoretical framework for analyzing two-photon interference from solid-state sources, including effects like pure dephasing and spectral diffusion, applicable to various linear optical setups.

Findings

Provides equations to predict interference visibility considering realistic emitter effects.

Addresses limitations on photon indistinguishability from remote solid-state sources.

Extends analysis to arbitrary linear optical gates using two-photon interference.

Abstract

In the present work, we derive a formalism that can be used to predict and interpret the time structure and achievable visibilities for two-photon interference (TPI) experiments using photons from two separate sources. The treatment particularly addresses photons stemming from solid state quantum emitters, which are often subject to pure dephasing (PD) and spectral diffusion (SD). Therefore, it includes the impact of phase- and emission frequency-jitter besides the influence of differing radiative lifetimes and a relative spectral detuning. While the treatment is mainly aimed at interference experiments after Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM), we additionally offer generalized equations that are applicable to arbitrary linear optical gates, which rely on TPI.