arXiv · 2110.02650
A chiral one-dimensional atom using a quantum dot in an open microcavity
Abstract
In nanostructures, the light-matter interaction can be engineered to be chiral. In the fully quantum regime, a chiral one-dimensional atom, a photon propagating in one direction interacts with the atom; a photon propagating in the other direction does not. Chiral quantum optics has applications in creating nanoscopic single-photon routers, circulators, phase-shifters and two-photon gates. Furthermore, the directional photon-exchange between many emitters in a chiral system may enable the creation of highly exotic quantum states. Here, we present a new way of implementing chiral quantum optics $-$ we use a low-noise quantum dot in an open microcavity. Specifically, we demonstrate the non-reciprocal absorption of single photons, a single-photon diode. The non-reciprocity, the ratio of the transmission in the forward-direction to the transmission in the reverse direction, is as high as 10.7 dB, and is optimised $\textit{in situ}$ by tuning the photon-emitter coupling to the optimal operating condition ($\beta = 0.5$). Proof that the non-reciprocity arises from a single quantum emitter lies in the nonlinearity with increasing input laser power, and in the photon statistics $-$ ultralow-power laser light propagating in the diode's reverse direction results in a highly bunched output ($g^{(2)}(0) = 101$), showing that the single-photon component is largely removed. The results pave the way to a single-photon phase shifter, and, by exploiting a quantum dot spin, to two-photon gates and quantum non-demolition single-photon detectors.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Nadia O. Antoniadis, Natasha Tomm, Tomasz Jakubczyk, Rüdiger Schott, Sascha R. Valentin, Andreas D. Wieck, Arne Ludwig, Richard J. Warburton, Alisa Javadi. 2021-10-06. A chiral one-dimensional atom using a quantum dot in an open microcavity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41534-022-00545-z
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.