On-demand heralded MIR single-photon source using a cascaded quantum system

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method for generating heralded single photons in the mid-infrared spectrum using a cascaded quantum system that leverages cavity QED effects and phonon coupling.

Contribution

It presents a novel cascaded quantum system scheme for deterministic MIR single-photon generation, achievable with current technology.

Findings

Optimal parameters identified for MIR photon generation.

The scheme operates effectively at modest light-matter coupling strengths.

Provides a quasi-deterministic, heralded single-photon source in the MIR range.

Abstract

We propose a novel mechanism for generating single photons in the mid-Infrared (MIR) using a solid-state or molecular quantum emitter. The scheme utilises cavity QED effects to selectively enhance a Frank-Condon transition, deterministically preparing a single Fock state of a polar phonon mode. By coupling the phonon mode to an antenna, the resulting excitation is then radiated to the far field as a single photon with a frequency matching the phonon mode. By combining macroscopic QED calculations with methods from open quantum system theory, we show that optimal parameters to generate these MIR photons occur for modest light-matter coupling strengths, which are achievable with state-of-the-art technologies. Combined, the cascaded system we propose provides a new quasi-deterministic source of heralded single photons in a regime of the electromagnetic spectrum where this previously was not possible.