arXiv subjects

Stephan Reitzenstein

Publications and source records attributed to Stephan Reitzenstein.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Numerical Investigation of Light Emission from Quantum Dots Embedded into On-Chip, Low Index Contrast Optical Waveguides

Single-photon emitters integrated into quantum optical circuits will enable new, miniaturized quantum optical devices. Here, we numerically investigate semiconductor quantum dots embedded to low refractive index contrast waveguides. We discuss a model to compute the coupling efficiency of the emitted light field to the fundamental propagation mode of the waveguide, and we optimize the waveguide dimensional parameters for maximum coupling efficiency. Further, we show that for a laterally cropped waveguide the interplay of Purcell-enhancement and optimized field profile can enhance the coupling efficiency by a factor of about two.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Quantum dot single-photon emission coupled into single-mode fibers with 3D printed micro-objectives

User-friendly single-photon sources with high photon-extraction efficiency are crucial building blocks for photonic quantum applications. For many of these applications, such as long-distance quantum key distribution, the use of single-mode optical fibers is mandatory, which leads to stringent requirements regarding the device design and fabrication. We report on the on-chip integration of a quantum dot microlens with a 3D-printed micro-objective in combination with a single-mode on-chip fiber coupler. The practical quantum device is realized by deterministic fabrication of the QD-microlens via in-situ electron-beam lithography and 3D two-photon laser writing of the on-chip micro-objective and fiber-holder. The QD with microlens is an efficient single-photon source, whose emission is collimated by the on-chip micro-objective. A second polymer microlens is located at the end facet of the single-mode fiber and ensures that the collimated light is efficiently coupled into the fiber core. For this purpose, the fiber is placed in the on-chip fiber chuck, which is precisely aligned to the QD-microlens thanks to the sub-$μ$m processing accuracy of high-resolution two-photon direct laser writing. This way, we obtain a fully integrated high-quality quantum device with broadband photon extraction efficiency, a single-mode fiber-coupling efficiency of 26%, a single-photon flux of 1.5 MHz at single-mode fibre output and a multi-photon probability of 13 % under pulsed optical excitation. In addition, the stable design of the developed fiber-coupled quantum device makes it highly attractive for integration into user-friendly plug-and-play quantum applications.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2020

Directional single-photon emission from deterministic quantum dot waveguide structures

Chiral light-matter interaction can lead to directional emission of two-level light emitters in waveguides. This interesting physics effect has raised considerable attention in recent years especially in terms of on-chip quantum systems. In this context, our work focuses on tailoring single semiconductor quantum dot-waveguide (QD-WG) systems to emit single photons with high directionality. We use low-temperature in-situ electron-beam lithography enabled by cathodoluminescence mapping to select suitable QDs and to integrate them deterministically into linear waveguide structures at specific chiral points determined by numerical calculations. We observe excitonic and biexcitonic emission from the fabricated QD-WG structure in a confocal microPL setup enabling the optical characterization in terms of directional emission of circularly polarized photons emitted by integrated QDs. Our results show a high degree of anisotropy on the level of 54% for directional QD emission and antibunching in autocorrelation experiment confirming the fabricated QD-WG system, which is a prerequisite for using this effect in advanced applications in integrated quantum circuits.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Entanglement robustness to excitonic spin precession in a quantum dot

A semiconductor quantum dot (QD) is an attractive resource to generate polarization-entangled photon pairs. We study the excitonic spin precession (flip-flop) in a family of QDs with different excitonic fine-structure splitting (FSS) and its impact on the entanglement of photons generated from the excitonic-biexcitonic radiative cascade. Our results reveal that coherent processes leave the time post-selected entanglement of QDs with finite FSS unaffected while changing the eigenstates of the system. The flip-flop's precession is observed via quantum tomography through anomalous oscillations of the coincidences in the rectilinear basis. A theoretical model is constructed with the inclusion of an excitonic flip-flop rate and is compared with a two-photon quantum tomography measurement on a QD exhibiting the spin flip-flop mechanism. A generalization of the theoretical model allows estimating the degree of entanglement as a function of the FSS and the spin-flip rate. For a finite temporal resolution, the negativity is found to be oscillating with respect to both the FSS and the spin-flip rate. This oscillatory behavior disappears for perfect temporal resolution and maximal entanglement is retrieved despite the flip-flop process.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Interplay between emission wavelength and s-p splitting in MOCVD-grown InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots emitting above 1.3 μm

The electronic structure of strain-engineered single InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots emitting in the telecommunication O band is probed experimentally by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy. Observed resonances can be attributed to p-shell states of individual quantum dots. The determined energy difference between s-shell and p-shell shows an inverse dependence on the emission energy. The experimental data are compared with the results of confined states calculations, where the impact of the size and composition in the investigated structures is simulated within the 8-band $\mathbf{k}\cdot\mathbf{p}$ model. On this basis, the experimental observation is attributed mainly to changes in indium content within individual quantum dots, indicating a way of engineering and selecting a desired quantum dot, whose electronic structure is the most suitable for a given nanophotonic application.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

Tools for the Performance Optimization of Single-Photon Quantum Key Distribution

Quantum light sources emitting triggered single photons or entangled photon pairs have the potential to boost the performance of quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. Proof-of-principle experiments affirmed these prospects, but further efforts are necessary to push this field beyond its current status. In this work, we show that temporal filtering of single-photon pulses enables a performance optimization of QKD systems implemented with realistic quantum light sources, both in experiment and simulations. To this end, we analyze the influence of temporal filtering of sub-Poissonian single-photon pulses on the expected secret key fraction, the quantum bit error ratio, and the tolerable channel losses. For this purpose, we developed a basic QKD testbed comprising a triggered solid-state single-photon source and a receiver module designed for four-state polarization coding via the BB84 protocol. Furthermore, we demonstrate real-time security monitoring by analyzing the photon statistics, in terms of $g^{(2)}(0)$, inside the quantum channel by correlating the photon flux recorded at the four ports of our receiver. Our findings are useful for the certification of QKD and can be applied and further extended for the optimization of various implementations of quantum communication based on sub-Poissonian quantum light sources, including measurement-device-independent schemes of QKD as well as quantum repeaters. Our work represents an important contribution towards the development of QKD-secured communication networks based on quantum light sources.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Plug&play fibre-coupled 73 kHz single-photon source operating in the telecom O-band

A user-friendly fibre-coupled single-photon source operating at telecom wavelengths is a key component of photonic quantum networks providing long-haul ultra-secure data exchange. To take full advantage of quantum-mechanical data protection and to maximize the transmission rate and distance, a true quantum source providing single-photons on demand is highly desirable. We tackle this great challenge by developing a ready to use semiconductor quantum dot (QD)-based device that launches single photons at a wavelength of 1.3 um directly into a single-mode optical fibre. In our approach the QD is deterministically integrated into a nanophotonic structure to ensure efficient on-chip coupling into a fibre. The whole arrangement is integrated into a 19" compatible housing to enable stand-alone operation by cooling via a compact Stirling cryocooler. The realized source delivers single photons with multiphoton events probability as low as 0.15 and single-photon emission rate up to 73 kHz into a standard telecom single-mode fibre.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Deterministically Fabricated Solid-State Quantum-Light Sources

This topical review focuses on solid-state quantum-light sources which are fabricated in a deterministic fashion. In this framework we cover quantum emitters represented by semiconductor quantum dots, colour centres in diamond, and defect-/strain-centres in two-dimensional materials. First, we introduce the topic of quantum-light sources and non-classical light generation for applications in photonic quantum technologies, motivating the need for the development of scalable device technologies to push the field to real-world applications. In the second part, we summarize material systems hosting quantum emitters in the solid-state. The third part reviews deterministic fabrication techniques and comparatively discusses their advantages and disadvantages. The techniques are classified in bottom-up approaches, exploiting the site-controlled positioning of the quantum emitters themselves, and top-down approaches, allowing for the precise alignment of photonic microstructures to pre-selected quantum emitters. Special emphasis is put on the progress achieved in the development of in-situ techniques, which significantly pushed the performance of quantum-light sources towards applications. Additionally we discuss hybrid approaches, exploiting pick-and-place techniques or wafer-bonding. The fourth part presents state-of-the-art quantum-dot quantum-light sources based on the fabrication techniques presented in the previous sections, which feature engineered functionality and enhanced photon collection efficiency. The article closes by highlighting recent applications of deterministic solid-state-based quantum-light sources in the fields of quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum metrology, and discussing future perspectives in the field of solid-state quantum-light sources.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Optimized Designs for Telecom-Wavelength Quantum Light Sources Based on Hybrid Circular Bragg Gratings

We present a design study of quantum light sources based on hybrid circular Bragg Gratings (CBGs) for emission wavelengths in the telecom O-band. The evaluated CBG designs show photon extraction efficiencies > 95% and Purcell factors close to 30. Using simulations based on the finite element method, and considering the influence of possible fabrication imperfections, we identify optimized high-performance CBG designs which are robust against structural aberrations. In particular, full 3D simulations reveal that the designs show robustness regarding deviations of the emitter position in the device well within reported positioning accuracies of deterministic fabrication technologies. Furthermore, we investigate the coupling of the evaluated hybrid CBG designs to single-mode optical fibers, which is particularly interesting for the development of practical quantum light sources. We obtain coupling efficiencies of up to 77% for off-the-shelf fibers, and again proof robustness against fabrication imperfections. Our results show prospects for the fabrication of close-to-ideal fiber-coupled quantum light sources for long distance quantum communication.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Excitonic complexes in MOCVD-grown InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots emitting at telecom wavelengths

Hereby, we present a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of the electronic structure and optical properties of excitonic complexes in strain-engineered InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) grown by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition and emitting at the 1300 nm telecommunication window. Single QD properties have been determined experimentally for a number of nanostructures by means of excitation-power-dependent and polarization-resolved microphotoluminescence and further compared with the results of confined states calculations employing the 8-band kp theory combined with the configuration interaction method. The origin of excitonic complexes has been exemplarily confirmed based on magnetooptical and correlation spectroscopy study. Understanding the influence of structural parameters and compositions (of QDs themselves as well as in the neighbouring strain reducing layer) allows to distinguish which of them are crucial to control the emission wavelength to achieve the telecommunication spectral range or to affect binding energies of the fundamental excitonic complexes. The obtained results provide deeper knowledge on control and on limitations of the investigated structures in terms of good spectral isolation of individual optical transitions and the spatial confinement that are crucial in view of QD applications in single-photon sources of high purity at telecom wavelengths.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Ground State Resonant Two-Photon Transitions in Wurtzite GaN/AlN Quantum Dots

Two-photon transition rates are investigated in resonance to the ground state in wurtzite GaN/AlN quantum dots. The ground state transition is two-photon allowed because of the electron-hole separation inherent to polar wurtzite III-nitride heterostructures. We show that this built-in parity breaking mechanism can allow deterministic triggering of single-photon emission via coherent two-photon excitation. Radiative lifetimes obtained for single-photon relaxation are in good agreement with available time-resolved micro-photoluminescence experiments, indicating the reliability of the employed computational framework based on 8-band k.p-wavefunctions. Two-photon singly-induced emission is explored in terms of possible cavity and non-degeneracy enhancement of two-photon processes.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Indistinguishable photons from deterministically integrated single quantum dots in heterogeneous GaAs/Si$_3$N$_4$ quantum photonic circuits

Silicon photonics enables scaling of quantum photonic systems by allowing the creation of extensive, low-loss, reconfigurable networks linking various functional on-chip elements. Inclusion of single quantum emitters onto photonic circuits, acting as on-demand sources of indistinguishable photons or single-photon nonlinearities, may enable large-scale chip-based quantum photonic circuits and networks. Towards this, we use low-temperature $\textit{in situ}$ electron-beam lithography to deterministically produce hybrid GaAs/Si$_3$N$_4$ photonic devices containing single InAs quantum dots precisely located inside nanophotonic structures, which act as efficient, Si$_3$N$_4$ waveguide-coupled on-chip, on-demand single-photon sources. The precise positioning afforded by our scalable fabrication method furthermore allows observation of post-selected indistinguishable photons. This indicates a promising path towards significant scaling of chip-based quantum photonics, enabled by large fluxes of indistinguishable single-photons produced on-demand, directly on-chip.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Thresholdless transition to coherent emission at telecom wavelengths from coaxial nanolasers

The ongoing miniaturization of semiconductor lasers has enabled ultra-low threshold devices and even provided a path to approach thresholdless lasing with linear input-output characteristics. Such nanoscale lasers have initiated a discourse on the origin of the physical mechanisms involved and their boundaries, such as the required photon number, the importance of optimized light confinement in a resonator and mode-density enhancement. Here, we investigate high-$β$ metal-clad coaxial nanolasers, which facilitate thresholdless lasing. We experimentally and theoretically investigate both the conventional lasing characteristics, as well as the photon statistics of the emitted light. While the former lacks adequate information to determine the threshold to coherent radiation, the latter reveals a finite threshold pump power. Our work clearly highlights an important and often misunderstood aspect of high-$β$ lasers, namely that a thresholdless laser does have a finite threshold pump power and must not be confused with a hypothetical zero threshold laser.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2019

Non-Markovian features in semiconductor quantum optics: Quantifying the role of phonons in experiment and theory

We discuss phonon-induced non-Markovian and Markovian features in QD-based optics. We cover lineshapes in linear absorption experiments, phonon-induced incoherence in the Heitler regime, and memory correlations in two-photon coherences. To quantitatively and qualitatively understand the underlying physics, we present several theoretical models which model the non-Markovian properties of the electron-phonon interaction accurately in different regimes. Examples are the Heisenberg equation of motion approach, the polaron master equation, and Liouville-propagator techniques in the independent boson limit and beyond via the path-integral method. Phenomenological modeling overestimates typically the dephasing due to the finite memory kernel of phonons and we give instructive examples of phonon-mediated coherence such as phonon-dressed anticrossings in Mollow physics, robust quantum state preparation, cavity-feeding and the stabilization of the collapse and revival phenomenon in the strong coupling limit.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Slow and fast light behavior of single photons from a quantum dot interacting with the excited state hyperfine structure of the Cesium D1-line

Hybrid interfaces between distinct quantum systems play a major role in the implementation of quantum networks. Quantum states have to be stored in memories to synchronize the photon arrival times for entanglement swapping by projective measurements in quantum repeaters or for entanglement purification. Here, we analyze the distortion of a single photon wave packet propagating through a dispersive and absorptive medium with high spectral resolution. Single photons are generated from a single In(Ga)As quantum dot with its excitonic transition precisely set relative to the Cesium D1 transition. The delay of spectral components of the single photon wave packet with almost Fourier-limited width is investigated in detail with a 200 MHz narrow-band monolithic Fabry-Pérot resonator. Reflecting the excited state hyperfine structure of Cesium, "slow light" and "fast light" behavior is observed. As a step towards room-temperature alkali vapor memories, quantum dot photons are delayed for 5 ns by strong dispersion between the two 1.17 GHz hyperfine-split excited state transitions. Based on optical pumping on the hyperfine-split ground states, we propose a simple, all-optically controllable delay for synchronization of heralded narrow-band photons in a quantum network.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2019

Wigner time delay induced by a single quantum dot

Resonant scattering of weak coherent laser pulses on a single two-level system (TLS) realized in a semiconductor quantum dot is investigated with respect to a time delay between incoming and scattered light. This type of time delay was predicted by Wigner in 1955 for purely coherent scattering and was confirmed for an atomic system in 2013 [R. Bourgain et al., Opt. Lett. 38, 1963 (2013)]. In the presence of electron-phonon interaction we observe deviations from Wigner's theory related to incoherent and strongly non-Markovian scattering processes which are hard to quantify via a detuning-independent pure dephasing time. We observe detuning-dependent Wigner delays of up to 530\,ps in our experiments which are supported quantitatively by microscopic theory allowing for pure dephasing times of up to 950\,ps.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Directional emission of a deterministically fabricated quantum dot - Bragg reflection multi-mode waveguide system

We report on the experimental study and numerical analysis of chiral light-matter coupling in deterministically fabricated quantum dot (QD) waveguide structures. We apply in-situ electron beam lithography to deterministically integrate single InGaAs/GaAs QDs into GaAs-DBR waveguides to systematically explore the dependence of chiral coupling on the position of the QD inside the waveguide. By a series of micro-photoluminescence measurements, we determine the directionality contrast of emission into left and right traveling waveguide modes revealing a maximum of 0.93 for highly off-center QDs and an oscillatory dependence of this contrast on the QD position. In numerical simulations we obtain insight into chiral light-matter coupling by computing the light field emitted by a circularly polarized source and its overlap with multiple guided modes of the structure, which enables us to calculate directional $β$-factors for the quantum emitters. The calculated dependence of the directionality on the off-center QD position is in good agreement with the experimental data. It confirms the control of chiral effects in deterministically fabricated QD-waveguide systems with high potential for future non-reciprocal on-chip systems required for quantum information processing.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Mutual coupling and synchronization of optically coupled quantum-dot micropillar lasers at ultra-low light levels

In this work we explore the limits of synchronization of mutually coupled oscillators at the crossroads of classical and quantum physics. In order to address this uncovered regime of synchronization we apply electrically driven quantum dot micropillar lasers operating in the regime of cavity quantum electrodynamics. These high-$β$ microscale lasers feature cavity enhanced coupling of spontaneous emission and operate at output powers on the order of 100 nW. We selected pairs of micropillar lasers with almost identical optical properties in terms of the input-output dependence and the emission energy which we mutually couple over a distance of about 1m and bring into spectral resonance by precise temperature tuning. By excitation power and detuning dependent studies we unambiguously identify synchronization of two mutually coupled high-$β$ microlasers via frequency locking associated with a sub-GHz locking range. A detailed analysis of the synchronization behavior includes theoretical modeling based on semi-classical stochastic rate equations and reveals striking differences from optical synchronization in the classical domain with negligible spontaneous emission noise and optical powers usually well above the mW range. In particular, we observe deviations from the classically expected locking slope and broadened locking boundaries which are successfully explained by the fact the quantum noise plays an important role in our cavity enhanced optical oscillators. Beyond that, introducing additional self-feedback to the two mutually coupled microlasers allows us to realize zero-lag synchronization. Our work provides important insight into synchronization of optical oscillators at ultra-low light levels and has high potential to pave the way for future experiments in the quantum regime of synchronization.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗