Photonic Waveguide Circuit Integrated with Carbon Nanotube Single-Photon Source Operating at Room Temperature

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the integration of carbon nanotubes as room-temperature single-photon sources into photonic circuits, enabling scalable quantum technologies with enhanced emission and confirmed single-photon propagation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method for integrating functionalized CNTs into photonic circuits, achieving cavity-enhanced emission and single-photon operation at room temperature.

Findings

Cavity-enhanced emission observed in photoluminescence spectra

Single-photon propagation confirmed via autocorrelation measurements

Deterministic positioning of CNTs on photonic cavities achieved

Abstract

Photonic integrated circuits require robust room-temperature single-photon sources to enable scalable quantum technologies. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), with their unique excitonic properties and chemical tunability, are attractive candidates, but their integration into photonic circuits remains challenging. In this work, we demonstrate the integration of functionalized CNTs as room-temperature single-photon emitters into photonic cavities and waveguide circuits. (6,5) CNTs with aryl sp$^3$ defects are either stochastically deposited via drop-casting or deterministically positioned on photonic cavities using an anthracene-assisted transfer method guided by real-time photoluminescence monitoring. Photoluminescence spectra reveal cavity-enhanced emission, while second-order autocorrelation measurements confirm single-photon propagation through the photonic integrated circuit, highlighting the potential of CNTs for scalable, room-temperature quantum photonic applications.