arXiv subjects

Amirehsan Alizadehherfati

Publications and source records attributed to Amirehsan Alizadehherfati.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

L-band single-photon generation from a cavity-coupled silicon C-center

Monolithic integration of single-photon sources into silicon photonics offers a compelling solution for realizing scalable quantum telecommunication architectures. Among the candidate silicon color centers, the C-center features a zero-phonon emission in the telecom L-band, corresponding to the spectral window of minimum transmission loss in optical fibers. Despite this advantage, isolating single C-centers has remained an unrealized challenge in solid-state quantum optics. In this work, we report the isolation of a single silicon C-center. We enhance the spontaneous emission rate of the zero-phonon line by coupling the single emitter to a nanophotonic crystal cavity, observing a fivefold reduction in the excited-state lifetime compared to bulk conditions, which corresponds to a Purcell factor lower bound of 33. Second-order autocorrelation measurements confirm single-photon emission from the investigated defect, obtaining an optical purity of $g^{(2)}(0) = 0.23$ without background correction. Our results establish a native telecom L-band quantum light source in silicon, laying the foundation for ultra-low-loss and long-distance quantum applications.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Surface passivation for narrowing optical linewidth of silicon T centers in nanophotonic devices

Silicon T centers are promising spin-photon interfaces in solid-state platforms for telecom-compatible, scalable quantum information technologies. A major challenge for T centers in nanophotonics is spectral diffusion, where fluctuations in the local electric-field environment from surface and bulk charge states broaden the optical transition and reduce photon indistinguishability. Strategies that directly suppress spectral diffusion are therefore critical for improving T-center-based quantum photonic devices. Here, we use atomic-layer-deposited Al2O3 to passivate the silicon surface and demonstrate a systematic narrowing of T center optical linewidths. Across our measurements, Al2O3 passivation reduces the T center emission linewidth by up to 57%. Complementary above-bandgap illumination and spectral hole burning measurements show that the remaining linewidth contains a significant spectral-diffusion component caused by adjacent charge traps, while placing an upper bound of approximately 75 MHz on the homogeneous linewidth. This work provides a CMOS-compatible path toward generating indistinguishable photons from silicon T centers for scalable quantum photonic applications.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Optically Active Single Hole Spin in ZnSe

Semiconductor hole spins offer a pathway to extended coherence times by decoupling from nuclear magnetic noise, while their spin-orbit coupling enables fast all-electrical control. In ZnSe, however, realizing this potential has been limited by p-doping challenges. Here, we circumvent this limit by optically activating acceptors within the ZnSe quantum well. We isolate a single-hole spin bound to a shallow acceptor, confirmed by antibunching and accessed via the fast (244 ps) radiative recombination of a bound exciton. Magnetic and Raman spectroscopy of the ground state reveal an effective hole g-factor of 0.7 and an optical resonance linewidth of 26.7 GHz. Complementary first-principles simulations, together with the experimental results, provide evidence that points toward nitrogen as the most likely acceptor impurity. These results introduce a promising new platform for optically active spin qubits and single-photon sources in ZnSe.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Bright Telecom Spin-Photon Interface in Silicon Photonics

Silicon is an attractive host for scalable quantum photonics, but the absence of bright telecom-band emitters with optically addressable spin states has limited its use for spin-photon interfaces. Here we demonstrate the Al1-center, an aluminum--carbon defect in silicon, as a bright waveguide-integrated single-photon emitter with a ground-state spin. Using isotopically purified silicon-on-insulator nanophotonic devices, we isolate individual Al1-centers and observe high-purity single-photon emission with $g^{(2)}(0)=0.04$ without background subtraction. Time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals a fast excited-state lifetime of 135 ns, nearly an order of magnitude shorter than the benchmark provided by the well-studied T-center. Resonant photoluminescence excitation measurements further resolve the zero-phonon transition and reveal a narrow homogeneous linewidth reaching 47 MHz, threefold narrower than the T-center under comparable temperature. Through magneto-optical spectroscopy, we resolve the spin-dependent transitions of the bound-exciton manifold and achieve spin-selective optical pumping, fulfilling the prerequisite for quantum state initialization and readout. These results establish the Al1-center as a bright telecom-band spin-photon interface in silicon photonics and introduce a promising platform for integrated quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Electrical Control of Optically Active Single Spin Qubits in ZnSe

Electrons bound to shallow donors in ZnSe quantum wells are promising candidates for optically addressable spin qubits and single-photon sources. However, their optical coherence and indistinguishability are often limited by spectral broadening arising from charge fluctuations in the local environment. Here, we report electrical control of single donor qubits in ZnSe quantum wells. The applied field induces a DC Stark shift that tunes the emission energy over a range exceeding 30 times the inhomogeneous linewidth, effectively compensating for emitter-to-emitter variations. Concurrently, the field stabilizes trap occupancy, yielding a twofold reduction in optical linewidth and the suppression of spectral wandering. A statistical model based on trap dynamics qualitatively reproduces these observations and elucidates the mechanism of field-assisted charge noise suppression. Our results identify electrical control as a versatile pathway to significantly improve optical and spin addressability.

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