arXiv subjects

Michele B. Rota

Publications and source records attributed to Michele B. Rota.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Beyond Antibunching: Photon Correlation Analysis Reveals Blinking Origin

A variety of quantum emitters compete in the quest for the best single-photon source for photonic quantum technologies. Consequently, only a consistent approach to analyze the second-order auto correlation function allows comparison of the multi-photon contribution ($g^{(2)}(0)$) of different sources. However, the community employs different and inconsistent methods for blinking sources, leading to incomparable benchmarks of source quality. Here, we use the emission of an inherently non-blinking quantum dot (QD) and apply artificial blinking through two different mechanisms: masking the recorded raw data in post-processing and emulation of a blinking system by gating the laser excitation pulses. We then compare the $g^{(2)}(0)$ values with the non-blinking result. For the analysis, we investigate five estimators of $g^{(2)}(0)$ actively used in the literature. While fitting the envelope of the correlations on long-time scales with the correct blinking model is the best choice, normalizing to the Poisson level gives by far the worst proximity. Furthermore, we test our predictive model to identify the underlying blinking mechanism of a QD in a circular Bragg grating cavity.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Picosecond-resolved entanglement distribution over an urban free-space channel

Time-evolving entangled states describe quantum particles whose correlations evolve in time according to a well-defined dynamics. Such states can be generated in a variety of physical systems and are promising resources for several quantum technologies, ranging from quantum clock synchronization to quantum communication. However, their full potential is currently limited by the fact that the entanglement dynamics often occur on timescales comparable to the achievable synchronization precision, especially in experiments aimed at distributing entanglement through noisy urban channels. In this context, accurate timing is not merely a technical detail, but a fundamental requirement for faithfully observing and exploiting the underlying quantum correlations. Here, we demonstrate the faithful distribution of a fast-evolving entangled state over a 270 m free-space channel connecting two buildings in the center of Rome. The developed system incorporates a synchronization device capable of achieving sub-50 ps timing accuracy between the two ends of the link while simultaneously supporting channel stabilization. Our results demonstrate that time-evolving entanglement can be reliably transmitted through a noisy urban free-space channel, representing an important benchmark toward long-distance free-space quantum communication and the future implementation of time-correlated entangled states in demanding scenarios such as satellite-based quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

A diode nanocavity for fast, efficient and tunable emission of highly entangled photon pairs and Fourier-transform-limited single photons

Deterministic sources of entangled photon pairs and indistinguishable photons are expected to play a key role in photonic quantum technologies. Semiconductor quantum dots are promising candidates due to their on-demand emission and compatibility with nanophotonic structures. However, current implementations face trade-offs between extraction efficiency, Purcell enhancement, as well as charge noise that causes blinking and degrades indistinguishability. Here we demonstrate a tunable nano-optoelectronic device based on a quantum dot embedded in a p-i-n diode circular-Bragg-grating-resonator and featuring extraction efficiencies up to 0.55(6) and Purcell-factor of $\sim$8. The device generates wavelength-tunable entangled photon pairs with suppressed blinking and raw (corrected) concurrence > 0.89 (0.91) over a range of 1.6 nm. The very same source also emits single, nearly Fourier-limited and highly indistinguishable photons with raw (corrected) $\mathcal{V}_{\text{HOM}}$ = 0.951(4) (0.988(6)). These results demonstrate a viable platform for semiconductor quantum photonics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Ability of entanglement and purity to help to detect systematic experimental errors

Measurements are central in all quantitative sciences, and a fundamental challenge is to make observations without systematic measurement errors. This holds in particular for quantum information processing, where other error sources, such as noise and decoherence, are unavoidable. Consequently, methods for detecting systematic errors have been developed, but the required quantum state properties are yet unexplored. We theoretically develop a direct and efficient method to detect systematic errors in quantum experiments and demonstrate it experimentally using quantum state tomography of photon pairs emitted from a semiconductor quantum dot. Our method can be scaled to multi-qubit systems, and we find that entanglement and quantum states with high purity can help identify systematic errors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

All-photonic entanglement swapping with remote quantum dots

Entanglement swapping is a protocol that details how to create entanglement between previously uncorrelated particles. Its all-photonic version - mediated by the interference of photon pairs generated by separate quantum systems-finds disparate applications in quantum networks. So far, all-photonic entanglement swapping between remote systems has been implemented only using sources that operate probabilistically. However, the scaling up of quantum networks requires deterministic quantum emitters that do not suffer from a trade-off between degree of entanglement and photonpair generation rate. Here, we demonstrate all-photonic entanglement swapping using photon-pairs generated by two separate GaAs quantum dots. The emitters are deterministically embedded in hybrid semiconductor-piezoelectric devices that make the entangled-photons from two dissimilar quantum dots nearly identical. Entanglement swapping is demonstrated with a fidelity as high as 0.71(2), more than 10 standard deviations above the classical limit. The experimental data are quantitatively explained by a theoretical model that also suggests how to boost the protocol performances. Our work opens the path to the exploitation of quantum dot entangled-photon sources in quantum repeater networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Quantum teleportation with dissimilar quantum dots over a hybrid quantum network

Photonic quantum information processing in metropolitan quantum networks lays the foundation for cloud quantum computing [1, 2], secure communication [3, 4], and the realization of a global quantum internet [5, 6]. This paradigm shift requires on-demand and high-rate generation of flying qubits and their quantum state teleportation over long distances [7]. Despite the last decade has witnessed an impressive progress in the performances of deterministic photon sources [8-11], the exploitation of distinct quantum emitters to implement all-photonic quantum teleportation among distant parties has remained elusive. Here, we overcome this challenge by using dissimilar quantum dots whose electronic and optical properties are engineered by light-matter interaction [12], multi-axial strain [13] and magnetic fields [14] so as to make them suitable for the teleportation of polarization qubits. This is demonstrated in a hybrid quantum network harnessing both fiber connections and 270 m free-space optical link connecting two buildings of the University campus in the center of Rome. The protocol exploits GPS-assisted synchronization, ultra-fast single photon detectors as well as stabilization systems that compensate for atmospheric turbulence. The achieved teleportation state fidelity reaches up to 82+-1%, above the classical limit by more than 10 standard deviations. Our field demonstration of all-photonic quantum teleportation opens a new route to implement solid-state based quantum relays and builds the foundation for practical quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Strain-induced dynamic control over the population of quantum emitters in two-dimensional materials

The discovery of quantum emitters (QEs) in two-dimensional materials (2D) has triggered a surge of research to assess their suitability for quantum photonics. While their microscopic origin is still the subject of intense studies, position-controlled QEs are routinely fabricated using static strain gradients, which are used to drive excitons towards localized regions of the crystal where quantum light emission takes place. However, the use of strain in a dynamic fashion to control the brightness of single-photon sources in 2D materials has not been explored so far. In this work, we address this challenge by introducing a novel hybrid semiconductorpiezoelectric device in which WSe2 monolayers are integrated onto piezoelectric pillars that provide both static and dynamic strains. The static strains are first used to induce the formation of QEs, whose emission shows photon anti-bunching. Their energy and brightness are then controlled via the application of voltages to the piezoelectric pillars. Numerical simulations combined with drift-diffusion equations show that these effects are due to a strain-induced modification of the confining-potential landscape, which in turn leads to a net redistribution of excitons among the different QEs. Our work provides a method to dynamically control the brightness of single photon sources based on 2D materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Wavevector-resolved polarization entanglement from radiative cascades

The generation of entangled photons from radiative cascades has enabled milestone experiments in quantum information science with several applications in photonic quantum technologies. Significant efforts are being devoted to pushing the performances of near-deterministic entangled-photon sources based on single quantum emitters often embedded in photonic cavities, so to boost the flux of photon pairs. The general postulate is that the emitter generates photons in a nearly maximally entangled state of polarization, ready for application purposes. Here, we demonstrate that this assumption is unjustified. We show that in radiative cascades there exists an interplay between photon polarization and emission wavevector, strongly affecting quantum correlations when emitters are embedded in micro-cavities. We discuss how the polarization entanglement of photon pairs from a biexciton-exciton cascade in quantum dots strongly depends on their propagation wavevector, and it can even vanish for large emission angles. Our experimental results, backed by theoretical modelling, yield a brand-new understanding of cascaded emission for various quantum emitters. In addition, our model provides quantitative guidelines for designing optical microcavities that retain both a high degree of entanglement and collection efficiency, moving the community one step further towards an ideal source of entangled photons for quantum technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

A source of entangled photons based on a cavity-enhanced and strain-tuned GaAs quantum dot

A quantum-light source that delivers photons with a high brightness and a high degree of entanglement is fundamental for the development of efficient entanglement-based quantum-key distribution systems. Among all possible candidates, epitaxial quantum dots are currently emerging as one of the brightest sources of highly entangled photons. However, the optimization of both brightness and entanglement currently requires different technologies that are difficult to combine in a scalable manner. In this work, we overcome this challenge by developing a novel device consisting of a quantum dot embedded in a circular Bragg resonator, in turn, integrated onto a micromachined piezoelectric actuator. The resonator engineers the light-matter interaction to empower extraction efficiencies up to 0.69(4). Simultaneously, the actuator manipulates strain fields that tune the quantum dot for the generation of entangled photons with corrected fidelities to a maximally entangled state up to 0.96(1). This hybrid technology has the potential to overcome the limitations of the key rates that plague QD-based entangled sources for entanglement-based quantum key distribution and entanglement-based quantum networks.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Polarized and Un-Polarized Emission from a Single Emitter in a Bullseye Resonator

We present polarized |S|=0.99$\pm$0.01, and unpolarized |S|=0.03$\pm$0.01 emission from a single emitter embedded in a single, cylindrically symmetric device design. We show that the polarization stems from a position offset of the single emitter with respect to the cavity center, which breaks the cylindrical symmetry, and a position-dependent coupling to the frequency degenerate eigenmodes of the resonator structure. The experimental results are interpreted by using numerical simulations and by experimental mapping of the polarization-resolved far-field emission patterns. Our findings can be generalized to any nanophotonic structure where two orthogonal eigenmodes are not fully spatially overlapping.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Post-fabrication tuning of circular Bragg resonators for enhanced emitter-cavity coupling

Solid-state quantum emitters embedded in circular Bragg resonators are attractive due to their ability to emit quantum states of light with high brightness and low multi-photon probability. As for any emitter-microcavity system, fabrication imperfections limit the spatial and spectral overlap of the emitter with the cavity mode, thus limiting their coupling strength. Here, we show that an initial spectral mismatch can be corrected after device fabrication by repeated wet chemical etching steps. We demonstrate ~16 nm wavelength tuning for optical modes in AlGaAs resonators on oxide, leading to a 4-fold Purcell enhancement of the emission of single embedded GaAs quantum dots. Numerical calculations reproduce the observations and suggest that the achievable performance of the resonator is only marginally affected in the explored tuning range. We expect the method to be applicable also to circular Bragg resonators based on other material platforms, thus increasing the device yield of cavity-enhanced solid-state quantum emitters.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Signatures of the Optical Stark Effect on Entangled Photon Pairs from Resonantly-Pumped Quantum Dots

Two-photon resonant excitation of the biexciton-exciton cascade in a quantum dot generates highly polarization-entangled photon pairs in a near-deterministic way. However, the ultimate level of achievable entanglement is still debated. Here, we observe the impact of the laser-induced AC-Stark effect on the quantum dot emission spectra and on entanglement. For increasing pulse-duration/lifetime ratios and pump powers, decreasing values of concurrence are recorded. Nonetheless, additional contributions are still required to fully account for the observed below-unity concurrence.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Experimental Multi-state Quantum Discrimination in the Frequency Domain with Quantum Dot Light

The quest for the realization of effective quantum state discrimination strategies is of great interest for quantum information technology, as well as for fundamental studies. Therefore, it is crucial to develop new and more efficient methods to implement discrimination protocols for quantum states. Among the others, single photon implementations are more advisable, because of their inherent security advantage in quantum communication scenarios. In this work, we present the experimental realization of a protocol employing a time-multiplexing strategy to optimally discriminate among eight non-orthogonal states, encoded in the four-dimensional Hilbert space spanning both the polarization degree of freedom and photon energy. The experiment, built on a custom-designed bulk optics analyser setup and single photons generated by a nearly deterministic solid-state source, represents a benchmarking example of minimum error discrimination with actual quantum states, requiring only linear optics and two photodetectors to be realized. Our work paves the way for more complex applications and delivers a novel approach towards high-dimensional quantum encoding and decoding operations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Daylight entanglement-based quantum key distribution with a quantum dot source

Entanglement-based quantum key distribution can enable secure communication in trusted node-free networks and over long distances. Although implementations exist both in fiber and in free space, the latter approach is often considered challenging due to environmental factors. Here, we implement a quantum communication protocol during daytime for the first time using a quantum dot source. This technology presents advantages in terms of narrower spectral bandwidth -- beneficial for filtering out sunlight -- and negligible multiphoton emission at peak brightness. We demonstrate continuous operation over the course of three and a half days, across an urban 270-m-long free-space optical link, under different light and weather conditions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

A multipair-free source of entangled photons in the solid state

Unwanted multiphoton emission commonly reduces the degree of entanglement of photons generated by non-classical light sources and, in turn, hampers their exploitation in quantum information science and technology. Quantum emitters have the potential to overcome this hurdle but, so far, the effect of multiphoton emission on the quality of entanglement has never been addressed in detail. Here, we tackle this challenge using photon pairs from a resonantly-driven quantum dot and comparing quantum state tomography and second-order coherence measurements as a function of the excitation power. We observe that the relative (absolute) multiphoton emission probability is as low as $p_m= (5.6 \pm 0.6)10^{-4}$ ($p_2= (1.5 \pm 0.3)10^{-6}$) at the maximum source brightness, values that lead to a negligible effect on the degree of entanglement. In stark contrast with probabilistic sources of entangled photons, we also demonstrate that the multiphoton emission probability and the degree of entanglement remain practically unchanged against the excitation power for multiple Rabi cycles, despite we clearly observe oscillations in the second-order coherence measurements. Our results, explained by a theoretical model that we develop to estimate the actual multiphoton contribution in the two-photon density matrix, highlight that quantum dots can be regarded as a multipair-free source of entangled photons in the solid state.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Surface passivation and oxide encapsulation to improve optical properties of a single GaAs quantum dot close to the surface

Epitaxial GaAs quantum dots grown by droplet etching have recently shown excellent properties as sources of single photons as well as entangled photon pairs. Integration in some nanophotonic structures requires surface-to-dot distances of less than 100 nm. This demands a surface passivation scheme, which could be useful to lower the density of surface states. To address this issue, sulphur passivation with dielectric overlayer as an encapsulation is used for surface to QD distances of 40 nm, which results in the partial recovery of emission linewidths to bulk values as well as in the increase of the photoluminescence intensity.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2021

Quantum violation of local causality in urban network with hybrid photonic technologies

Quantum networks play a crucial role for distributed quantum information processing, enabling the establishment of entanglement and quantum communication among distant nodes. Fundamentally, networks with independent sources allow for new forms of nonlocality, beyond the paradigmatic Bell's theorem. Here we implement the simplest of such networks -- the bilocality scenario -- in an urban network connecting different buildings with a fully scalable and hybrid approach. Two independent sources using different technologies, respectively a quantum dot and a nonlinear crystal, are used to share photonic entangled state among three nodes connected through a 270 m free-space channel and fiber links. By violating a suitable non-linear Bell inequality, we demonstrate the nonlocal behaviour of the correlations among the nodes of the network. Our results pave the way towards the realization of more complex networks and the implementation of quantum communication protocols in an urban environment, leveraging on the capabilities of hybrid photonic technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2020

Quantum key distribution with entangled photons generated on-demand by a quantum dot

Quantum key distribution---exchanging a random secret key relying on a quantum mechanical resource---is the core feature of secure quantum networks. Entanglement-based protocols offer additional layers of security and scale favorably with quantum repeaters, but the stringent requirements set on the photon source have made their use situational so far. Semiconductor-based quantum emitters are a promising solution in this scenario, ensuring on-demand generation of near-unity-fidelity entangled photons with record-low multi-photon emission, the latter feature countering some of the best eavesdropping attacks. Here we first employ a quantum dot to experimentally demonstrate a modified Ekert quantum key distribution protocol with two quantum channel approaches: both a 250 meter long single mode fiber and in free-space, connecting two buildings within the campus of Sapienza University in Rome. Our field study highlights that quantum-dot entangled-photon sources are ready to go beyond laboratory experiments, thus opening the way to real-life quantum communication.

quant-ph↗