3D printed micro-optics for quantum technology: Optimized coupling of single quantum dot emission into a single mode fiber

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel 3D printed micro-optics approach to optimize coupling of single quantum dot emission into single mode fibers, enhancing quantum network fidelity.

Contribution

It presents an advanced manufacturing method combining 3D printed micro-optics with quantum dots and fibers, achieving high localization accuracy and efficient single-photon emission.

Findings

Hemispherical solid immersion lenses improve emitter localization to below 1 nm.

The integrated system enables high-rate single-photon emission.

The system can be cooled without optical windows, simplifying setup.

Abstract

Future quantum technology relies crucially on building quantum networks with high fidelity. To achieve this challenging goal, it is of utmost importance to connect single quantum systems in a way such that their emitted single-photons overlap with the highest possible degree of coherence. This requires perfect mode overlap of the emitted light of different emitters, which necessitates the use of single mode fibers. Here we present an advanced manufacturing approach to accomplish this task: we combine 3D printed complex micro-optics such as hemispherical and Weierstrass solid immersion lenses as well as total internal reflection solid immersion lenses on top of single InAs quantum dots with 3D printed optics on single mode fibers and compare their key features. Interestingly, the use of hemispherical solid immersion lenses further increases the localization accuracy of the emitters to below 1 nm when acquiring micro-photoluminescence maps. The system can be joined together and permanently fixed. This integrated system can be cooled by dipping into liquid helium, by a Stirling cryocooler or by a closed-cycle helium cryostat without the necessity for optical windows, as all access is through the integrated single mode fiber. We identify the ideal optical designs and present experiments that prove excellent high-rate single-photon emission by high-contrast Hanbury Brown and Twiss experiments.