Quantum-Dot Sources for Single Photons and Entangled Photon Pairs

Quantum dots show excellent promise as triggered sources of both single and polarization entangled photons for quantum information applications. Our recent progress developing nonclassical light sources with single quantum dots is presented in this paper. Following radiative emission of an exciton confined in a quantum dot, there is a finite delay before re-excitation can occur; this results in an anti-bunching of the photons emitted providing a source of single photons. Excitation of a quantum dot with two electrons and two holes leads to the emission of a pair of photons; we show here that, provided the spin splitting of the intermediate exciton state in the decay is erased, the photon pair is emitted in an entangled polarization state. The fidelity of this entangled state is shown to exceed 70%. Using quantum dots to generate quantum light allows contacts for electrical injection to be integrated into a compact and robust device. A cavity may also be integrated into the semiconductor structure to enhance the photon collection efficiency and control the recombination dynamics. We detail a process to form a submicrometer current aperture within an electrical device, allowing individual quantum dots to be addressed electrically in devices.     

Role of Cooper pairs for the generation of entangled photon pairs from single quantum dots

Generation of entangled photon pairs from semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) is highly desirable for realizing practical solid-state photon sources for quantum information processing and quantum cryptography. However, the energy splitting of exciton states in QDs almost prevent the generation of entangled photon pairs. This paper discusses the new possibility with the injection of electron as well as hole Cooper pairs into QDs.     

Electrically driven uniaxial stress device for tuning in situ semiconductor quantum dot symmetry and exciton emission in cryostat

Uniaxial stress is a powerful tool for tuning exciton emitting wavelength, polarization, fine-structure splitting (FSS), and the symmetry of quantum dots (QDs). Here, we present a technique for applying uniaxial stress, which enables us in situ to tune exciton optical properties at low temperature down to 15 K with high tuning precision. The design and operation of the device are described in detail. This technique provides a simple and convenient approach to tune QD structural symmetry, exciton energy and biexciton binding energy. It can be utilized for generating entangled and indistinguishable photons. Moreover, this device can be employed for tuning optical properties of thin film materials at low temperature.     

半导体量子点量子光源研究进展

半导体量子点被认为是制备量子光源的最佳方案。量子点量子光源的可控性、纯度、亮度、全同性和相干性都有了很大的提高,已接近于应用水平。归纳了基于半导体量子点的量子光源研究进展中的关键问题,指出了半导体量子点量子光源在3个方面的主要进展,并讨论了关键制备技术,即半导体量子点作为单光子光源,实现了高全同性、高纯度、高收集效率等特性; 通过降低精细结构分裂效应等措施,量子点量子光源实现了具有高比特率、高保真度特性的光子纠缠; 量子点量子光源与平面电子线路和纳米光子系统的芯片集成取得了显著成效。在此基础上,对半导体量子点量子光源在量子信息领域的研究前景进行了展望。     

InP/GaInP Quantum Dots as Single-Photon Sources for Quantum Information Processing

Many important realizations and proposals for applications in quantum information processing require single photons as carriers of quantum information. Here, we review different demonstrations of quantum applications using a deterministic single-photon source based on InP/GaInP quantum dots. First, the single-photon generation is described and verified by autocorrelation measurements. A modification of the correlation setup allows the simultaneous observation of wave and particle properties of the photons. Additional to single-photon emission, photon pairs and triplets from multiexciton cascades were observed, as well. Using a Michelson interferometer an efficient separation of photon pairs can be achieved allowing multiplexing on a single-photon level. The applicability was demonstrated in a quantum key distribution experiment. As another application, different degrees of freedom of a single photon were used to realize a two-qubit Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm. Encoding the quantum information in appropriate bases, an operation of the setup resistant to phase fluctuation was demonstrated.     

Subminiature emitters based on a single (111) In(Ga)As quantum dot and hybrid microcavity

The results of numerical modeling and investigation of a hybrid microcavity based on a semiconductor Bragg reflector and a microlens selectively positioned above a single (111) In(Ga)As quantum dot are presented. Emitters based on the hybrid microcavity demonstrate the effective pumping of a single quantum dot and high emission output efficiency. The microcavity design can be used to implement emitters of polarization- entangled photon pairs based on single semiconductor quantum dots.     

Telecom wavelength single photon sources

Single photon sources are key components for quantum technologies such as quantum communication, computing and metrology. A key challenge towards the realization of global quantum networks are transmission losses in optical fibers. Therefore, single photon sources are required to emit at the low-loss telecom wavelength bands. However, an ideal telecom wavelength single photon source has yet to be discovered. Here, we review the recent progress in realizing such sources. We start with single photon emission based on atomic ensembles and spontaneous parametric down conversion, and then focus on solid-state emitters including semiconductor quantum dots, defects in silicon carbide and carbon nanotubes. In conclusion, some state-of-the-art applications are highlighted.     

非相干变频转换实现室温下红外单光子源

纳米金刚石中的NV-center(Nitrogen-Vacancy center)是目前室温下具有高发射率和稳定性的可见光波段单光子源,而如何实现及优化红外单光子源则是未来实现量子信息和量子通信应用的一大挑战.介绍了一种近期提出的实现红外单光子源的新型机制.该方法以金刚石中的NV-center作为可见光波段的单光子源,利用非相干变频转换实现室温下近红外波段稳定、无闪烁的单光子源.具体的实施方案为在中空芯光子晶体光纤中选择性地填充含有量子点的溶液,以可见光波段的单光子源作为激励源,选择合适的量子点即可得到红外波段的单光子源.中空芯光子晶体光纤保证了较高的单光子吸收效率以及荧光收集效率.该方案的实施在理论上可以达到26%的转换效率,而初步的实验得到了0.1%的转换效率.进一步分析了一些影响转换效率的因素,并提出了一些解决方案.     

Broadband photonic structures for quantum light sources

Quantum light sources serve as one of the key elements in quantum photonic technologies. Such sources made from semiconductor material, e.g., quantum dots (QDs), are particularly appealing because of their great potential of scalability enabled by the modern planar nanofabrication technologies. So far, non-classic light sources based on semiconductor QDs are currently outperforming their counterparts using nonlinear optical process, for instance, parametric down conversion and four-wave mixing. To fully exploring the potential of semiconductor QDs, it is highly desirable to integrate QDs with a variety of photonic nanostructures for better device performance due to the improved light-matter interaction. Among different designs, the photonic nanostructures exhibiting broad operation spectral range is particularly interesting to overcome the QD spectral inhomogeneity and exciton fine structure splitting for the generations of single-photon and entangled photon pair respectively. In this review, we focus on recent progress on high-performance semiconductor quantum light sources that is achieved by integrating single QDs with a variety of broadband photonic nanostructures i.e. waveguide, lens and low-Q cavity.     

量子色散消除的研究进展

非局域色散消除是量子纠缠光源的非经典效应之一,在量子信息科学中有着重要的应用。详细介绍了非局域色散消除的概念、研究意义以及近几年国内外的发展状况。对频率纠缠光源的非局域色散消除、Franson干涉仪中的非局域色散消除、Hong-Ou-Mandel干涉仪中的局域色散消除等3种情况的研究进展进行了对比分析。在此基础上,对量子色散消除的研究前景进行了展望。     

Quantum light source devices of In(Ga)As semiconductor self-assembled quantum dots

A brief introduction of semiconductor self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) applied in single-photon sources is given. Single QDs in confined quantum optical microcavity systems are reviewed along with their optical properties and coupling characteristics. Subsequently, the recent progresses in In(Ga)As QDs systems are summarized including the preparation of quantum light sources, multiple methods for embedding single QDs into different microcavities and the scalability of single-photon emitting wavelength. Particularly, several In(Ga)As QD single-photon devices are surveyed including In(Ga)As QDs coupling with nanowires, InAs QDs coupling with distributed Bragg reflection microcavity and the In(Ga)As QDs coupling with micropillar microcavities. Furthermore, applications in the field of single QDs technology are illustrated, such as the entangled photon emission by spontaneous parametric down conversion, the single-photon quantum storage, the chip preparation of single-photon sources as well as the single-photon resonance-fluorescence measurements.     

空间量子通信技术

利用卫星来分发单光子（或纠缠光子对）的方法为远程量子通信网络提供了一种独特的解决方案。这将克服现有的光纤和陆上自由空间链路所带来的距离限制，实现真正意义上的全球量子通信。本文对这种设想进行了分析，证明这种设想有很高可行性。     

高非线性光纤中光子对产生中的噪声及其抑制

在高非线性光纤中产生高质量的光子对对于量子信息的应用具有重要意义.在分析基于光纤中四波混频效应产生光子对原理的基础上,指出了影响光子对产生噪声的主要因素.讨论了抑制噪声的几种可能的方法,采用冷却光纤、短脉冲泵浦光源和狭窄的滤波宽度和增大四波混频的信号和闲频光带宽等方法可以有效地降低噪声,从而为高效产生光子对提供了依据.     

Maximising performance of optical coherence tomography systems using a multi-section chirped quantum dot superluminescent diode

Key device requirements for maximising resolution in an optical coherence tomography system are discussed. The design and operating parameters of a multi-contact quantum dot superluminescent diode incorporating a number of features which inhibit lasing are described. Such devices allow the independent tuning of emission power and spectral shape; hence the penetration depth and resolution in optical coherence tomography are decoupled. The emission spectrum of a device utilising chirped quantum dots is shown to be tuned to produce a broadband single Gaussian emission, centred at the required wavelength of 1050 nm, with high output powers than a single contact device.     

Electronic Structure of Semiconductor Nanocrystals

This paper reviews our recent development of the use of the large-scale pseudopotential method to calculate the electronic structure of semiconductor nanocrystals, such as quantum dots and wires, which often contain tens of thousands of atoms. The calculated size-dependent exciton energies and absorption spectra of quantum dots and wires are in good agreement with experiments. We show that the electronic structure of a nanocrystal can be tuned not only by its size,but also by its shape. Finally,we show that defect properties in quantum dots can be significantly different from those in bulk semiconductors.     

Electronic Structure of Semiconductor Nanocrystals

This paper reviews our recent development of the use of the large-scale pseudopotential method to calculate the electronic structure of semiconductor nanocrystals, such as quantum dots and wires, which often contain tens of thousands of atoms. The calculated size-dependent exciton energies and absorption spectra of quantum dots and wires are in good agreement with experiments. We show that the electronic structure of a nanocrystal can be tuned not only by its size,but also by its shape. Finally,we show that defect properties in quantum dots can be significantly different from those in bulk semiconductors.     

单光子波包与腔-量子点相互作用的动力学研究

对单光子波包与腔-量子点模型相互作用的动力学过程进行了数学推导,并通过数值模拟实现了静态量子比特与飞行光子比特之间的相互转换。结果表明：由腔-量子点系统输出到光纤的光子是一个平滑的波包;通过改变激光脉冲作用时间等系统参数,可实现量子点中的原子和光子的纠缠,在此基础上,即可实现不同量子点中原子的纠缠。研究结果对解决利用腔-量子点系统来构造量子计算机的接口、制备纠缠态以及实现受控量子门等热点问题具有积极意义。     

Review on the quantum emitters in two-dimensional materials

The solid state single photon source is fundamental key device for application of quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum information and quantum precious metrology. After years of searching, researchers have found the single photon emitters in zero-dimensional quantum dots (QDs), one-dimensional nanowires, three-dimensional wide bandgap materials, as well as two-dimensional (2D) materials developed recently. Here we will give a brief review on the single photon emitters in 2D van der Waals materials. We will firstly introduce the quantum emitters from various 2D materials and their characteristics. Then we will introduce the electrically driven quantum light in the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs)-based light emitting diode (LED). In addition, we will introduce how to tailor the quantum emitters by nanopillars and strain engineering, the entanglement between chiral phonons (CPs) and single photon in monolayer TMDs. Finally, we will give a perspective on the opportunities and challenges of 2D materials-based quantum light sources.     

A quantum multiple access communications scheme using orbital angular momentum

We propose a quantum multiple access communications scheme using Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) sector states in the paper. In the scheme, each user has an individual modified Poincare Bloch sphere and encodes his information with his own corresponding sector OAM states. A prepared entangled photon pairs are separated at transmitter and receiver. At the transmitter, each user encodes his information with the sector OAM states on the photons and the superposition of the different sector OAM states is carried by the photons. Then the photons are transmitted through quantum noiseless channel to the receiver. At the receiver, each user could retrieve his information by coincidently measuring the transmitted photons with the receiver side photons which are modulated by a special prepared measurement basis. The theoretical analysis and the numerical simulations show that each user could get his information from the superposition state without error. It seems that this scheme provides a novel method for quantum multiple users communications.     

Quantum Optical-Effect-Based Tunable Switches and Delay Lines

We demonstrate that fast tunable optical switches and tunable slow-light devices can be designed as optical cavities entangled with quantum dots. We derive the analytical conditions for switching and tuning the filter transmittance, considering both dipole-induced transparency and electromagnetic-induced transparency effects.