Criteria for deterministic single-photon emission in two-dimensional atomic crystals

TL;DR

This paper establishes key criteria for achieving deterministic single-photon emission in two-dimensional materials, emphasizing the roles of spatial isolation, spectral filtering, and low excitation, supported by theoretical modeling of defect effects.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical framework outlining specific criteria for single-photon emission in 2D materials, including the impact of defects, strain, and optical cavities, guiding future experiments.

Findings

Defects and strain influence photon statistics in 2D materials.

Optical cavities can suppress single-photon emission quality.

Spectral filtering is crucial for maintaining single-photon purity.

Abstract

The deterministic production of single-photons from two dimensional materials promises to usher in a new generation of photonic quantum devices. In this work, we outline criteria by which single-photon emission can be realised in two dimensional materials: spatial isolation, spectral filtering and low excitation of quantum emitters. We explore how these criteria can be fulfilled in atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides, where excitonic physics dictates the observed photoemission. In particular, we model the effect of defects and localised strain, in accordance with the most common experimental realisations, on the photon statistics of emitted light. Moreover, we demonstrate that an optical cavity has a negative impact on the photon statistics, suppressing the single-photon character of the emission by diminishing the effect of spectral filtering on the emitted light. Our work provides a theoretical framework revealing criteria necessary to facilitate single-photon emission in two-dimensional materials and thus can guide future experimental studies in this field.