Abstract
Interfacing single photons and electrons is a crucial element in sharing quantum information between remote solid-state qubits1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Semiconductor nanowires offer the unique possibility of combining optical quantum dots with avalanche photodiodes, thus enabling the conversion of an incoming single photon into a macroscopic current for efficient electrical detection. Currently, millions of excitation events are required to perform electrical readout of an exciton qubit state1,6. Here, we demonstrate multiplication of carriers from only a single exciton generated in a quantum dot after tunnelling into a nanowire avalanche photodiode. Owing to the large amplification of both electrons and holes (>104), we reduce by four orders of magnitude the number of excitation events required to electrically detect a single exciton generated in a quantum dot. This work represents a significant step towards achieving single-shot electrical readout and offers a new functionality for on-chip quantum information circuits.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank J. Rarity and S.M. Frolov for useful scientific discussions. This work was supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), the Dutch Organization for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM), the European Research Council and a DARPA QUEST grant.
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The experiments were conceived and designed by G.B., M.E.R. and V.Z., and were carried out by G.B. and M.E.R. The sample was grown by M.H. and E.P.A.M.B. and contacted by M.E.R. The data were analysed by G.B., M.E.R. and V.Z. The manuscript was written by G.B. and M.E.R. with input from M.H., E.P.A.M.B., L.P.K. and V.Z.
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Bulgarini, G., Reimer, M., Hocevar, M. et al. Avalanche amplification of a single exciton in a semiconductor nanowire. Nature Photon 6, 455–458 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2012.110
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2012.110
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