Collective single-photon emission and energy transfer in thin-layer dielectric and plasmonic systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates how guided and surface plasmon modes influence collective photon decay and energy transfer in thin dielectric layers with quantum emitters, revealing conditions for both enhancement and inhibition of emission.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the role of guided modes in collective emission and demonstrates a configuration for enhanced energy transfer in layered dielectric and plasmonic systems.

Findings

Guided modes can both enhance and inhibit collective emission.

Certain configurations significantly improve Förster energy transfer efficiency.

Surface plasmon modes do not always increase collective decay rates.

Abstract

We study the collective photon decay of multiple quantum emitters embedded in a thin high-index dielectric layer such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), with and without a metal substrate. We first explore the significant role that guided modes including surface plasmon modes play in the collective decay of identical singlephoton emitters (super- and subradiance). Surprisingly, on distances relevant for collective emission, the guided or surface-plasmon modes do not always enhance the collective emission. We identify configurations with inhibition, and others with enhancement of the dipole interaction due to the guided modes. We interpret our results in terms of local and cross densities of optical states. In the same structure, we show a remarkably favorable configuration for enhanced F\"orster resonance energy transfer between a donor and acceptor in the dielectric layer on a metallic substrate. We compare our results to theoretical limits for energy transfer efficiency.