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High-performance semiconductor quantum-dot single-photon sources

Nature Nanotechnology volume 12, pages 1026–1039 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

Single photons are a fundamental element of most quantum optical technologies. The ideal single-photon source is an on-demand, deterministic, single-photon source delivering light pulses in a well-defined polarization and spatiotemporal mode, and containing exactly one photon. In addition, for many applications, there is a quantum advantage if the single photons are indistinguishable in all their degrees of freedom. Single-photon sources based on parametric down-conversion are currently used, and while excellent in many ways, scaling to large quantum optical systems remains challenging. In 2000, semiconductor quantum dots were shown to emit single photons, opening a path towards integrated single-photon sources. Here, we review the progress achieved in the past few years, and discuss remaining challenges. The latest quantum dot-based single-photon sources are edging closer to the ideal single-photon source, and have opened new possibilities for quantum technologies.

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Figure 1: Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) and QD-based single-photon sources.
Figure 2: Indistinguishability of QD-based single-photon sources.
Figure 3: Extracting single photons.
Figure 4: State of play.
Figure 5: Deterministic device fabrication.

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Acknowledgements

P.S. acknowledges partial support from the ERC Starting Grant No. 277885 QD-CQED. A.W. acknowledges partial support from the Australian Research Centres of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (CE110001013) and Quantum Computing and Communication Technology (CE110001027). G.S. acknowledges partial support from the PFC@JQI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnology CNRS, UMR9001, University Paris-Saclay, C2N – Site de Marcoussis, Route de Nozay, 91460, Marcoussis, France

    Pascale Senellart

  2. Joint Quantum Institute, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Maryland, Gaithersburg, 20889, Maryland, USA

    Glenn Solomon

  3. Centre for Engineered Quantum Systems and Centre for Quantum Computer and Communication Technology, School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Queensland, Australia

    Andrew White

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  1. Pascale Senellart
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Correspondence to Pascale Senellart.

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P.S. is co-founder and scientific advisor of the single-photon-source company Quandela.

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Senellart, P., Solomon, G. & White, A. High-performance semiconductor quantum-dot single-photon sources. Nature Nanotech 12, 1026–1039 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2017.218

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