Coupling Quantum Emitters in WSe2 Monolayers to a Metal-Insulator-Metal Waveguide

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates efficient coupling of single photon emitters in WSe2 monolayers to surface plasmon polaritons in a metal-insulator-metal waveguide, enhancing spontaneous emission rates and advancing on-chip quantum photonics.

Contribution

It introduces a method for self-aligning WSe2 emitters with plasmonic waveguides, improving coupling efficiency for integrated quantum photonic devices.

Findings

Average spontaneous emission rate enhancement of 1.89 times

Emitters are strain-induced defects close to the plasmonic mode

The architecture enables efficient on-chip quantum photonic circuits

Abstract

Coupling single photon emitters to surface plasmons provides a versatile ground for on chip quantum photonics. However, achieving good coupling efficiency requires precise alignment of both the position and dipole orientation of the emitter relative to the plasmonic mode. We demonstrate coupling of single emitters in the 2-D semiconductor, WSe2 self-aligned with propagating surface plasmon polaritons in silver-air-silver, metal-insulator-metal waveguides. The waveguide produces strain induced defects in the monolayer which are close to the surface plasmon mode with favorable dipole orientations for optimal coupling. We measure an average enhancement in the rate of spontaneous emission by a factor of 1.89 for coupling the single defects to the plasmonic waveguide. This architecture provides an efficient way of coupling single photon emitters to propagating plasmons which is an important step towards realizing active plasmonic circuits on chip.