Near-Transform-Limited Single Photons from an Efficient Solid-State Quantum Emitter

Programmable multiphoton quantum interference in a single spatial mode

The interference of nonclassical states of light enables quantum-enhanced applications reaching from metrology to computation. Most commonly, the polarization or spatial location of single photons are used as addressable degrees of freedom for turning these applications into praxis. However, the scale-up for the processing of a large number of photons of these architectures is very resource-demanding due to the rapidly increasing number of components, such as optical elements, photon sources, and detectors. Here, we demonstrate a resource-efficient architecture for multiphoton processing based on time-bin encoding in a single spatial mode. We use an efficient quantum dot single-photon source and a fast programmable time-bin interferometer to observe the interference of up to eight photons in 16 modes, all recorded only with one detector, thus considerably reducing the physical overhead previously needed for achieving equivalent tasks. Our results can form the basis for a future universal photonics quantum processor operating in a single spatial mode.

High-throughput quantum photonic devices emitting indistinguishable photons in the telecom C-band

Single indistinguishable photons at telecom C-band wavelengths are essential for quantum networks and the future quantum internet. However, high-throughput technology for single-photon generation at 1550 nm remained a missing building block to overcome present limitations in quantum communication and information technologies. Here, we demonstrate the high-throughput fabrication of quantum-photonic integrated devices operating at C-band wavelengths based on epitaxial semiconductor quantum dots. Our technique enables the deterministic integration of single pre-selected quantum emitters into microcavities based on circular Bragg gratings. Respective devices feature the triggered generation of single photons with ultra-high purity and record-high photon indistinguishability. Further improvements in yield and coherence properties will pave the way for implementing single-photon non-linear devices and advanced quantum networks at telecom wavelengths.

On-Demand Generation of Indistinguishable Photons in the Telecom C-Band Using Quantum Dot Devices

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) enable the generation of single and entangled photons, which are useful for various applications in photonic quantum technologies. Specifically for quantum communication via fiber-optical networks, operation in the telecom C-band centered around 1550 nm is ideal. The direct generation of QD-photons in this spectral range with high quantum-optical quality, however, remained challenging. Here, we demonstrate the coherent on-demand generation of indistinguishable photons in the telecom C-band from single QD devices consisting of InAs/InP QD-mesa structures heterogeneously integrated with a metallic reflector on a silicon wafer. Using pulsed two-photon resonant excitation of the biexciton-exciton radiative cascade, we observe Rabi rotations up to pulse areas of 4π and a high single-photon purity in terms of g(2)(0) = 0.005(1) and 0.015(1) for exciton and biexciton photons, respectively. Applying two independent experimental methods, based on fitting Rabi rotations in the emission intensity and performing photon cross-correlation measurements, we consistently obtain preparation fidelities at the π-pulse exceeding 80%. Finally, performing Hong-Ou-Mandel-type two-photon interference experiments, we obtain a photon-indistinguishability of the full photon wave packet of up to 35(3)%, representing a significant advancement in the photon-indistinguishability of single photons emitted directly in the telecom C-band.

Scalable Bright and Pure Single Photon Sources by Droplet Epitaxy on InP Nanowire Arrays

High-quality quantum light sources are crucial components for the implementation of practical and reliable quantum technologies. The persistent challenge, however, is the lack of scalable and deterministic single photon sources that can be synthesized reproducibly. Here, we present a combination of droplet epitaxy with selective area epitaxy to realize the deterministic growth of single quantum dots in nanowire arrays. By optimization of the single quantum dot growth and the nanowire cavity design, single emissions are effectively coupled with the dominant mode of the nanowires to realize Purcell enhancement. The resonance-enhanced quantum emitter system boasts a brightness of millions of counts per second with nanowatt excitation power, a short radiation lifetime of 350 ± 5 ps, and a high single-photon purity with g(2)(0) value of 0.05 with continuous wave above-band excitation. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation results show that the emissions of single quantum dots are coupled into the TM01 mode of the nanowires, giving a Purcell factor ≈ 3. Our technology can be used for creating on-chip scalable single photon sources for future quantum technology applications including quantum networks, quantum computation, and quantum imaging.

Ultrafast and Bright Quantum Emitters from the Cavity-Coupled Single Perovskite Nanocrystals

Perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted increasing interest in the realization of single-photon emitters owing to their ease of chemical synthesis, wide spectral tunability, fast recombination rate constant, scalability, and high quantum yield. However, the integration of a single perovskite NC into a photonic structure has yet to be accomplished. In this work, the integration of a highly stable individual zwitterionic ligand-based CsPbBr3 perovskite NC with a circular Bragg grating (CBG) is successfully demonstrated. The far-field radiation pattern of the NC inside the CBG exhibits high directionality toward a low azimuthal angle, which is consistent with the simulation results. A 5.4-fold enhancement in brightness is observed due to an increase in collection efficiency. Moreover, a 1.95-fold increase in the recombination rate constant is achieved. This study offers ultrafast (<100 ps) single-photon emission and an improved brightness of perovskite NCs, which are critical factors for practical quantum optical applications.

Coherent light scattering from a telecom C-band quantum dot

Quantum networks have the potential to transform secure communication via quantum key distribution and enable novel concepts in distributed quantum computing and sensing. Coherent quantum light generation at telecom wavelengths is fundamental for fibre-based network implementations, but Fourier-limited emission and subnatural linewidth photons have so far only been reported from systems operating in the visible to near-infrared wavelength range. Here, we use InAs/InP quantum dots to demonstrate photons with coherence times much longer than the Fourier limit at telecom wavelength via elastic scattering of excitation laser photons. Further, we show that even the inelastically scattered photons have coherence times within the error bars of the Fourier limit. Finally, we make direct use of the minimal attenuation in fibre for these photons by measuring two-photon interference after 25 km of fibre, demonstrating finite interference visibility for photons emitted about 100,000 excitation cycles apart.

Telecom-band quantum dot technologies for long-distance quantum networks

A future quantum internet is expected to generate, distribute, store and process quantum bits (qubits) over the world by linking different quantum nodes via quantum states of light. To facilitate long-haul operations, quantum repeaters must operate at telecom wavelengths to take advantage of both the low-loss optical fibre network and the established technologies of modern optical communications. Semiconductor quantum dots have thus far shown exceptional performance as key elements for quantum repeaters, such as quantum light sources and spin-photon interfaces, but only in the near-infrared regime. Therefore, the development of high-performance telecom-band quantum dot devices is highly desirable for a future solid-state quantum internet based on fibre networks. In this Review, we present the physics and technological developments towards epitaxial quantum dot devices emitting in the telecom O- and C-bands for quantum networks, considering both advanced epitaxial growth for direct telecom emission and quantum frequency conversion for telecom-band down-conversion of near-infrared quantum dot devices. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities for future realization of telecom quantum dot devices with improved performance and expanded functionality through hybrid integration.

Comprehensive measurement of the near-infrared refractive index of GaAs at cryogenic temperatures

The refractive index is a critical parameter in optical and photonic device design. However, due to the lack of available data, precise designs of devices working in low temperatures are still frequently limited. In this work, we have built a homemade spectroscopic ellipsometer (SE) and measured the refractive index of GaAs at a matrix of temperatures (4 K < T < 295 K) and photon wavelengths (700 nm < λ < 1000 nm) with a system error of ∼0.04. We verified the credibility of the SE results by comparing them with afore-reported data at room temperature and with higher precision values measured by vertical GaAs cavity at cryogenic temperatures. This work makes up for the lack of the near-infrared refractive index of GaAs at cryogenic temperatures and provides accurate reference data for semiconductor device design and fabrication.

Exciton Dephasing by Phonon-Induced Scattering between Bright Exciton States in InP/ZnSe Colloidal Quantum Dots

Decoherence or dephasing of the exciton is a central characteristic of a quantum dot (QD) that determines the minimum width of the exciton emission line and the purity of indistinguishable photon emission during exciton recombination. Here, we analyze exciton dephasing in colloidal InP/ZnSe QDs using transient four-wave mixing spectroscopy. We obtain a dephasing time of 23 ps at a temperature of 5 K, which agrees with the smallest line width of 50 μeV we measure for the exciton emission of single InP/ZnSe QDs at 5 K. By determining the dephasing time as a function of temperature, we find that exciton decoherence can be described as a phonon-induced, thermally activated process. The deduced activation energy of 0.32 meV corresponds to the small splitting within the nearly isotropic bright exciton triplet of InP/ZnSe QDs, suggesting that the dephasing is dominated by phonon-induced scattering within the bright exciton triplet.

Efficient generation of single photons by quantum dots embedded in bullseye cavities with backside dielectric mirrors

Single photons are pivotal building blocks for photonic quantum technologies. Semiconductor quantum dots are promising candidates for optimal single photon sources in terms of purity, brightness and indistinguishability. Here we embed quantum dots into bullseye cavities with a backside dielectric mirror to enhance the collection efficiency up to near 90%. Experimentally, we achieve a collection efficiency of 30%. The auto-correlation measurements reveal a multiphoton probability below 0.05±0.005. A moderate Purcell factor of 3.1 is observed. Furthermore, we propose a scheme for laser integration as well as fiber coupling. Our results represent a step forward to the practical plug-and-play single photon sources.

Deterministic generation of indistinguishable photons in a cluster state

Entanglement between particles is a basic concept of quantum sciences. The ability to produce entangled particles in a controllable manner is essential for any quantum technology. Entanglement between light particles (photons) is particularly crucial for quantum communication due to light's non-interactive nature and long-lasting coherence. Resources producing entangled multiphoton cluster states will enable communication between remote quantum nodes, as the inbuilt redundancy of cluster photons allows for repeated local measurements-compensating for losses and probabilistic Bell measurements. For feasible applications, the cluster generation should be fast, deterministic and, most importantly, its photons indistinguishable, which will allow measurements and fusion of clusters by interfering photons. Here, using periodic excitation of a semiconductor quantum-dot-confined spin, we demonstrate a multi-indistinguishable photon cluster, featuring a continuously generated string of photons at deterministic gigahertz generation rates, and an optimized entanglement length of about ten photons. The indistinguishability of the photons opens up new possibilities for scaling up the cluster's dimensionality by fusion, thus building graph states suited for measurement-based photonic quantum computers and all-photonic quantum repeaters.

Transmission estimation at the quantum Cramér-Rao bound with macroscopic quantum light

The field of quantum metrology seeks to apply quantum techniques and/or resources to classical sensing approaches with the goal of enhancing the precision in the estimation of a parameter beyond what can be achieved with classical resources. Theoretically, the fundamental minimum uncertainty in the estimation of a parameter for a given probing state is bounded by the quantum Cramér-Rao bound. From a practical perspective, it is necessary to find physical measurements that can saturate this fundamental limit and to show experimentally that it is possible to perform measurements with the required precision to do so. Here we perform experiments that saturate the quantum Cramér-Rao bound for transmission estimation over a wide range of transmissions when probing the system under study with a continuous wave bright two-mode squeezed state. To properly take into account the imperfections in the generation of the quantum state, we extend our previous theoretical results to incorporate the measured properties of the generated quantum state. For our largest transmission level of 84%, we show a 62% reduction over the optimal classical protocol in the variance in transmission estimation when probing with a bright two-mode squeezed state with -8 dB of intensity-difference squeezing. Given that transmission estimation is an integral part of many sensing protocols, such as plasmonic sensing, spectroscopy, calibration of the quantum efficiency of detectors, etc., the results presented promise to have a significant impact on a number of applications in various fields of research.

Perfect Photon Indistinguishability from a Set of Dissipative Quantum Emitters

Single photon sources (SPS) based on semiconductor quantum dot (QD) platforms are restricted to low temperature (T) operation due to the presence of strong dephasing processes. Although the integration of QD in optical cavities provides an enhancement of its emission properties, the technical requirements for maintaining high indistinguishability (I) at high T are still beyond the state of the art. Recently, new theoretical approaches have shown promising results by implementing two-dipole-coupled-emitter systems. Here, we propose a platform based on an optimized five-dipole-coupled-emitter system coupled to a cavity which enables perfect I at high T. Within our scheme the realization of perfect I single photon emission with dissipative QDs is possible using well established photonic platforms. For the optimization procedure we have developed a novel machine-learning approach which provides a significant computational-time reduction for high demanding optimization algorithms. Our strategy opens up interesting possibilities for the optimization of different photonic structures for quantum information applications, such as the reduction of quantum decoherence in clusters of coupled two-level quantum systems.

Quantum interference of identical photons from remote GaAs quantum dots

Photonic quantum technology provides a viable route to quantum communication^1,2, quantum simulation³ and quantum information processing⁴. Recent progress has seen the realization of boson sampling using 20 single photons³ and quantum key distribution over hundreds of kilometres². Scaling the complexity requires architectures containing multiple photon sources, photon counters and a large number of indistinguishable single photons. Semiconductor quantum dots are bright and fast sources of coherent single photons^5-9. For applications, a roadblock is the poor quantum coherence on interfering single photons created by independent quantum dots^10,11. Here we demonstrate two-photon interference with near-unity visibility (93.0 ± 0.8)% using photons from two completely separate GaAs quantum dots. The experiment retains all the emission into the zero phonon line-only the weak phonon sideband is rejected; temporal post-selection is not employed. By exploiting quantum interference, we demonstrate a photonic controlled-not circuit and an entanglement with fidelity of (85.0 ± 1.0)% between photons of different origins. The two-photon interference visibility is high enough that the entanglement fidelity is well above the classical threshold. The high mutual coherence of the photons stems from high-quality materials, diode structure and relatively large quantum dot size. Our results establish a platform-GaAs quantum dots-for creating coherent single photons in a scalable way.

Three-Dimensional Electrical Control of the Excitonic Fine Structure for a Quantum Dot in a Cavity

The excitonic fine structure plays a key role for the quantum light generated by semiconductor quantum dots, both for entangled photon pairs and single photons. Controlling the excitonic fine structure has been demonstrated using electric, magnetic, or strain fields, but not for quantum dots in optical cavities, a key requirement to obtain high source efficiency and near-unity photon indistinguishability. Here, we demonstrate the control of the fine structure splitting for quantum dots embedded in micropillar cavities. We propose and implement a scheme based on remote electrical contacts connected to the pillar cavity through narrow ridges. Numerical simulations show that such a geometry allows for a three-dimensional control of the electrical field. We experimentally demonstrate tuning and reproducible canceling of the fine structure, a crucial step for the reproducibility of quantum light source technology.

Tailoring solid-state single-photon sources with stimulated emissions

The coherent interaction of electromagnetic fields with solid-state two-level systems can yield deterministic quantum light sources for photonic quantum technologies. To date, the performance of semiconductor single-photon sources based on three-level systems is limited mainly due to a lack of high photon indistinguishability. Here we tailor the cavity-enhanced spontaneous emission from a ladder-type three-level system in a single epitaxial quantum dot through stimulated emission. After populating the biexciton (XX) of the quantum dot through two-photon resonant excitation, we use another laser pulse to selectively depopulate the XX state into an exciton (X) state with a predefined polarization. The stimulated XX-X emission modifies the X decay dynamics and improves the characteristics of a polarized single-photon source, such as a source brightness of 0.030(2), a single-photon purity of 0.998(1) and an indistinguishability of 0.926(4). Our method can be readily applied to existing quantum dot single-photon sources and expands the capabilities of three-level systems for advanced quantum photonic functionalities.

Unity yield of deterministically positioned quantum dot single photon sources

We report on a platform for the production of single photon devices with a fabrication yield of 100%. The sources are based on InAsP quantum dots embedded within position-controlled bottom-up InP nanowires. Using optimized growth conditions, we produce large arrays of structures having highly uniform geometries. Collection efficiencies are as high as 83% and multiphoton emission probabilities as low as 0.6% with the distribution away from optimal values associated with the excitation of other charge complexes and re-excitation processes, respectively, inherent to the above-band excitation employed. Importantly, emission peak lineshapes have Lorentzian profiles indicating that linewidths are not limited by inhomogeneous broadening but rather pure dephasing, likely elastic carrier-phonon scattering due to a high phonon occupation. This work establishes nanowire-based devices as a viable route for the scalable fabrication of efficient single photon sources and provides a valuable resource for hybrid on-chip platforms currently being developed.

Optical Quality of InAs/InP Quantum Dots on Distributed Bragg Reflector Emitting at 3rd Telecom Window Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

We present an experimental study on the optical quality of InAs/InP quantum dots (QDs). Investigated structures have application relevance due to emission in the 3rd telecommunication window. The nanostructures are grown by ripening-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. This leads to their unique properties, i.e., low spatial density and in-plane shape symmetry. These are advantageous for non-classical light generation for quantum technologies applications. As a measure of the internal quantum efficiency, the discrepancy between calculated and experimentally determined photon extraction efficiency is used. The investigated nanostructures exhibit close to ideal emission efficiency proving their high structural quality. The thermal stability of emission is investigated by means of microphotoluminescence. This allows to determine the maximal operation temperature of the device and reveal the main emission quenching channels. Emission quenching is predominantly caused by the transition of holes and electrons to higher QD's levels. Additionally, these carriers could further leave the confinement potential via the dense ladder of QD states. Single QD emission is observed up to temperatures of about 100 K, comparable to the best results obtained for epitaxial QDs in this spectral range. The fundamental limit for the emission rate is the excitation radiative lifetime, which spreads from below 0.5 to almost 1.9 ns (GHz operation) without any clear spectral dispersion. Furthermore, carrier dynamics is also determined using time-correlated single-photon counting.

Bright Purcell Enhanced Single-Photon Source in the Telecom O-Band Based on a Quantum Dot in a Circular Bragg Grating

The combination of semiconductor quantum dots with photonic cavities is a promising way to realize nonclassical light sources with state-of-the-art performances regarding brightness, indistinguishability, and repetition rate. Here we demonstrate the coupling of InGaAs/GaAs QDs emitting in the telecom O-band to a circular Bragg grating cavity. We demonstrate a broadband geometric extraction efficiency enhancement by investigating two emission lines under above-band excitation, inside and detuned from the cavity mode, respectively. In the first case, a Purcell enhancement of 4 is attained. For the latter case, an end-to-end brightness of 1.4% with a brightness at the first lens of 23% is achieved. Using p-shell pumping, a combination of high count rate with pure single-photon emission (g⁽²⁾(0) = 0.01 in saturation) is achieved. Finally, a good single-photon purity (g⁽²⁾(0) = 0.13) together with a high detector count rate of 191 kcps is demonstrated for a temperature of up to 77 K.

A bright and fast source of coherent single photons

A single-photon source is an enabling technology in device-independent quantum communication¹, quantum simulation^2,3, and linear optics-based⁴ and measurement-based quantum computing⁵. These applications employ many photons and place stringent requirements on the efficiency of single-photon creation. The scaling on efficiency is typically an exponential function of the number of photons. Schemes taking full advantage of quantum superpositions also depend sensitively on the coherence of the photons, that is, their indistinguishability⁶. Here, we report a single-photon source with a high end-to-end efficiency. We employ gated quantum dots in an open, tunable microcavity⁷. The gating provides control of the charge and electrical tuning of the emission frequency; the high-quality material ensures low noise; and the tunability of the microcavity compensates for the lack of control in quantum dot position and emission frequency. Transmission through the top mirror is the dominant escape route for photons from the microcavity, and this output is well matched to a single-mode fibre. With this design, we can create a single photon at the output of the final optical fibre on-demand with a probability of up to 57% and with an average two-photon interference visibility of 97.5%. Coherence persists in trains of thousands of photons with single-photon creation at a repetition rate of 1 GHz.

Hong-Ou-Mandel Interference with Imperfect Single Photon Sources

Hong-Ou-Mandel interference is a cornerstone of optical quantum technologies. We explore both theoretically and experimentally how unwanted multiphoton components of single-photon sources affect the interference visibility, and find that the overlap between the single photons and the noise photons significantly impacts the interference. We apply our approach to quantum dot single-photon sources to access the mean wave packet overlap of the single-photon component. This study provides a consistent platform with which to diagnose the limitations of current single-photon sources on the route towards the ideal device.

Bright Telecom-Wavelength Single Photons Based on a Tapered Nanobeam

Telecom-wavelength single photons are essential components for long-distance quantum networks. However, bright and pure single photon sources at telecom wavelengths remain challenging to achieve. Here, we demonstrate a bright telecom-wavelength single photon source based on a tapered nanobeam containing InAs/InP quantum dots. The tapered nanobeam enables directional and Gaussian-like far-field emission of the quantum dots. As a result, using above-band excitation we obtain an end-to-end brightness of 4.1 ± 0.1% and first-lens brightness of 27.0 ± 0.1% at the ∼1300 nm wavelength. Furthermore, we adopt quasi-resonant excitation to reduce both multiphoton emission and decoherence from unwanted charge carriers. As a result, we achieve a coherence time of 523 ± 16 ps and postselected Hong-Ou-Mandel visibility of 0.91 ± 0.09 along with a comparable first-lens brightness of 21.0 ± 0.1%. These results represent a major step toward a practical fiber-based single photon source at telecom wavelengths for long-distance quantum networks.

Observation of photon antibunching with only one standard single-photon detector

The second-order photon correlation function g²(τ) is of great importance in quantum optics. g²(τ) is typically measured with the Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT) interferometer, which employs a pair of single-photon detectors and a dual-channel time acquisition module. Here, we demonstrate a new method to measure and extract g²(τ) with a standard single-photon avalanche photodiode (dead-time = 22 ns) and a single-channel time acquisition module. This is realized by shifting the coincidence counts of interest to a time window not affected by the dead-time and after-pulse of the detection system using a fiber-based delay line. The new scheme is verified by measuring g²(τ) from a single colloidal nanocrystal. Photon antibunching is unambiguously observed and agrees well with the result measured using the standard HBT setup. Our scheme simplifies the higher-order correlation technique and might be favored in cost-sensitive circumstances.

Thermal stability of emission from single InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots at the telecom O-band

Single-photon sources are key building blocks in most of the emerging secure telecommunication and quantum information processing schemes. Semiconductor quantum dots (QD) have been proven to be the most prospective candidates. However, their practical use in fiber-based quantum communication depends heavily on the possibility of operation in the telecom bands and at temperatures not requiring extensive cryogenic systems. In this paper we present a temperature-dependent study on single QD emission and single-photon emission from metalorganic vapour-phase epitaxy-grown InGaAs/GaAs QDs emitting in the telecom O-band at 1.3 μm. Micro-photoluminescence studies reveal that trapped holes in the vicinity of a QD act as reservoir of carriers that can be exploited to enhance photoluminescence from trion states observed at elevated temperatures up to at least 80 K. The luminescence quenching is mainly related to the promotion of holes to higher states in the valence band and this aspect must be primarily addressed in order to further increase the thermal stability of emission. Photon autocorrelation measurements yield single-photon emission with a purity of \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${g}_{50K}^{(2)}\left(0\right)=0.13$$\end{document}g50K(2)0=0.13 up to 50 K. Our results imply that these nanostructures are very promising candidates for single-photon sources at elevated (e.g., Stirling cryocooler compatible) temperatures in the telecom O-band and highlight means for improvements in their performance.

Scalable integrated single-photon source

Photonic qubits are key enablers for quantum information processing deployable across a distributed quantum network. An on-demand and truly scalable source of indistinguishable single photons is the essential component enabling high-fidelity photonic quantum operations. A main challenge is to overcome noise and decoherence processes to reach the steep benchmarks on generation efficiency and photon indistinguishability required for scaling up the source. We report on the realization of a deterministic single-photon source featuring near-unity indistinguishability using a quantum dot in an "on-chip" planar nanophotonic waveguide circuit. The device produces long strings of >100 single photons without any observable decrease in the mutual indistinguishability between photons. A total generation rate of 122 million photons per second is achieved, corresponding to an on-chip source efficiency of 84%. These specifications of the single-photon source are benchmarked for boson sampling and found to enable scaling into the regime of quantum advantage.

Sequential generation of linear cluster states from a single photon emitter

Light states composed of multiple entangled photons—such as cluster states—are essential for developing and scaling-up quantum computing networks. Photonic cluster states can be obtained from single-photon sources and entangling gates, but so far this has only been done with probabilistic sources constrained to intrinsically low efficiencies, and an increasing hardware overhead. Here, we report the resource-efficient generation of polarization-encoded, individually-addressable photons in linear cluster states occupying a single spatial mode. We employ a single entangling-gate in a fiber loop configuration to sequentially entangle an ever-growing stream of photons originating from the currently most efficient single-photon source technology—a semiconductor quantum dot. With this apparatus, we demonstrate the generation of linear cluster states up to four photons in a single-mode fiber. The reported architecture can be programmed for linear-cluster states of any number of photons, that are required for photonic one-way quantum computing schemes.

Generating photonic cluster states using a single non-heralded source and a single entangling gate would optimise scalability and reduce resource overhead. Here, the authors generate up to 4-photon cluster states using a quantum dot coupled to a fibre loop, with a fourfold generation rate of 10 Hz.

On-chip deterministic operation of quantum dots in dual-mode waveguides for a plug-and-play single-photon source

A deterministic source of coherent single photons is an enabling device for quantum information processing. Quantum dots in nanophotonic structures have been employed as excellent sources of single photons with the promise of scaling up towards multiple photons and emitters. It remains a challenge to implement deterministic resonant optical excitation of the quantum dot required for generating coherent single photons, since residual light from the excitation laser should be suppressed without compromising source efficiency and scalability. Here, we present a planar nanophotonic circuit that enables deterministic pulsed resonant excitation of quantum dots using two orthogonal waveguide modes for separating the laser and the emitted photons. We report a coherent and stable single-photon source that simultaneously achieves high-purity (g⁽²⁾(0) = 0.020 ± 0.005), high-indistinguishability (V = 96 ± 2%), and >80% coupling efficiency into the waveguide. Such ‘plug-and-play’ single-photon source can be integrated with on-chip optical networks implementing photonic quantum processors.

Resonantly-excited quantum-dot-based single photon sources feature very high purity, but also limited efficiency due to the need to suppress the residual pump. Here, the authors demonstrate a workaround, performing optical pumping and signal collection in two orthogonal modes inside a nanophotonic circuit.

Photon Statistics of Filtered Resonance Fluorescence

Spectral filtering of resonance fluorescence is widely employed to improve single photon purity and indistinguishability by removing unwanted backgrounds. For filter bandwidths approaching the emitter linewidth, complex behavior is predicted due to preferential transmission of components with differing photon statistics. We probe this regime using a Purcell-enhanced quantum dot in both weak and strong excitation limits, finding excellent agreement with an extended sensor theory model. By changing only the filter width, the photon statistics can be transformed between antibunched, bunched, or Poissonian. Our results verify that strong antibunching and a subnatural linewidth cannot simultaneously be observed, providing new insight into the nature of coherent scattering.

Proof-of-principle demonstration of compiled Shor's algorithm using a quantum dot single-photon source

We report a proof-of-principle demonstration of Shor's algorithm with photons generated by an on-demand semiconductor quantum dot single-photon source for the first time. A fully compiled version of Shor's algorithm for factoring 15 has been accomplished with a significantly reduced resource requirement that employs the four-photon cluster state. Genuine multiparticle entanglement properties are confirmed to reveal the quantum character of the algorithm and circuit. The implementation realizes the Shor's algorithm with deterministic photonic qubits, which opens new applications for cluster state beyond one-way quantum computing.

Advanced technologies for quantum photonic devices based on epitaxial quantum dots

Quantum photonic devices are candidates for realizing practical quantum computers and networks. The development of integrated quantum photonic devices can greatly benefit from the ability to incorporate different types of materials with complementary, superior optical or electrical properties on a single chip. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) serve as a core element in the emerging modern photonic quantum technologies by allowing on-demand generation of single-photons and entangled photon pairs. During each excitation cycle, there is one and only one emitted photon or photon pair. QD photonic devices are on the verge of unfolding for advanced quantum technology applications. In this review, we focus on the latest significant progress of QD photonic devices. We first discuss advanced technologies in QD growth, with special attention to droplet epitaxy and site-controlled QDs. Then we overview the wavelength engineering of QDs via strain tuning and quantum frequency conversion techniques. We extend our discussion to advanced optical excitation techniques recently developed for achieving the desired emission properties of QDs. Finally, the advances in heterogeneous integration of active quantum light-emitting devices and passive integrated photonic circuits are reviewed, in the context of realizing scalable quantum information processing chips.

Quantum Beat between Sunlight and Single Photons

We demonstrate fourth-order quantum beat between sunlight and single photons from a quantum dot. With a fast time-resolved detection system, we observed high-visibility quantum beat between the independent photons of different frequencies from the two astronomically separated light sources. The temporal dynamics of the beat oscillation indicate the coherent behavior of the interfering photons, and the raw visibility of two-photon interference shows violation of the classical limit with a frequency mismatch of three-times the line width.

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 lateral 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.

Strain-induced control of a pillar cavity-GaAs single quantum dot photon source

Herein, we present the calculated strain-induced control of single GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots (QDs) integrated into semiconductor micropillar cavities. We show precise energy control of individual single GaAs QD excitons under multi-modal stress fields of tailored micropillar optomechanical resonators. Further, using a three-dimensional envelope-function model, we evaluated the quantum mechanical correction in the QD band structures depending on their geometrical shape asymmetries and, more interestingly, on the practical degree of Al interdiffusion. Our theoretical calculations provide the practical quantum error margins, obtained by evaluating Al-interdiffused QDs that were engineered through a front-edge droplet epitaxy technique, for tuning engineered QD single-photon sources, facilitating a scalable on-chip integration of QD entangled photons.

Resolving the temporal evolution of line broadening in single quantum emitters

Light emission from solid-state quantum emitters is inherently prone to environmental decoherence, which results in a line broadening and in the deterioration of photon indistinguishability. Here we employ photon correlation Fourier spectroscopy (PCFS) to study the temporal evolution of such a broadening in two prominent systems: GaAs and In(Ga)As quantum dots. Differently from previous experiments, the emitters are driven with short laser pulses as required for the generation of high-purity single photons, the time scales we probe range from a few nanoseconds to milliseconds and, simultaneously, the spectral resolution we achieve can be as small as ∼ 2µeV. We find pronounced differences in the temporal evolution of different optical transition lines, which we attribute to differences in their homogeneous linewidth and sensitivity to charge noise. We analyze the effect of irradiation with additional white light, which reduces blinking at the cost of enhanced charge noise. Due to its robustness against experimental imperfections and its high temporal resolution and bandwidth, PCFS outperforms established spectroscopy techniques, such as Michelson interferometry. We discuss its practical implementation and the possibility to use it to estimate the indistinguishability of consecutively emitted single photons for applications in quantum communication and photonic-based quantum information processing.

Light Scattering from Solid-State Quantum Emitters: Beyond the Atomic Picture

Coherent scattering of light by a single quantum emitter is a fundamental process at the heart of many proposed quantum technologies. Unlike atomic systems, solid-state emitters couple to their host lattice by phonons. Using a quantum dot in an optical nanocavity, we resolve these interactions in both time and frequency domains, going beyond the atomic picture to develop a comprehensive model of light scattering from solid-state emitters. We find that even in the presence of a low-Q cavity with high Purcell enhancement, phonon coupling leads to a sideband that is completely insensitive to excitation conditions and to a nonmonotonic relationship between laser detuning and coherent fraction, both of which are major deviations from atomlike behavior.

Quantum Interference between Light Sources Separated by 150 Million Kilometers

We report an experiment to test quantum interference, entanglement, and nonlocality using two dissimilar photon sources, the Sun and a semiconductor quantum dot on the Earth, which are separated by ∼150  million kilometers. By making the otherwise vastly distinct photons indistinguishable in all degrees of freedom, we observe time-resolved two-photon quantum interference with a raw visibility of 0.796(17), well above the 0.5 classical limit, providing unambiguous evidence of the quantum nature of thermal light. Further, using the photons with no common history, we demonstrate postselected two-photon entanglement with a state fidelity of 0.826(24) and a violation of Bell inequality by 2.20(6). The experiment can be further extended to a larger scale using photons from distant stars and open a new route to quantum optics experiments at an astronomical scale.

Nanowire-based sources of non-classical light

Sources of quantum light that utilize photonic nanowire designs have emerged as potential candidates for high efficiency non-classical light generation in quantum information processing. In this review we cover the different platforms used to produce nanowire-based sources, highlighting the importance of waveguide design and material properties in achieving optimal performance. The limitations of the sources are identified and routes to optimization are proposed. State-of-the-art nanowire sources are compared to other solid-state quantum emitter platforms with regard to the key metrics of single photon purity, indistinguishability and entangled-pair fidelity to maximally entangled Bell states. We also discuss the unique ability of the nanowire platform to incorporate multiple emitters in the same optical mode and consider potential applications. Finally, routes to on-chip integration are discussed and the challenges facing the development of a nanowire-based scalable architecture are presented.

On-Demand Semiconductor Source of Entangled Photons Which Simultaneously Has High Fidelity, Efficiency, and Indistinguishability

An outstanding goal in quantum optics and scalable photonic quantum technology is to develop a source that each time emits one and only one entangled photon pair with simultaneously high entanglement fidelity, extraction efficiency, and photon indistinguishability. By coherent two-photon excitation of a single InGaAs quantum dot coupled to a circular Bragg grating bull's-eye cavity with a broadband high Purcell factor of up to 11.3, we generate entangled photon pairs with a state fidelity of 0.90(1), pair generation rate of 0.59(1), pair extraction efficiency of 0.62(6), and photon indistinguishability of 0.90(1) simultaneously. Our work will open up many applications in high-efficiency multiphoton experiments and solid-state quantum repeaters.

Wigner Time Delay Induced by a Single Quantum Dot

Resonant scattering of weak coherent laser pulses on a single two-level system 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)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.38.001963]. 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.

Two-photon interference in the telecom C-band after frequency conversion of photons from remote quantum emitters

Efficient fibre-based long-distance quantum communication via quantum repeaters relies on deterministic single-photon sources at telecom wavelengths, potentially exploiting the existing world-wide infrastructures. For upscaling the experimental complexity in quantum networking, two-photon interference (TPI) of remote non-classical emitters in the low-loss telecom bands is of utmost importance. Several experiments have been conducted regarding TPI of distinct emitters, for example, using trapped atoms¹, ions², nitrogen vacancy centres^3,4, silicon vacancy centres⁵, organic molecules⁶ and semiconductor quantum dots^7,8. However, the spectral range was far from the highly desirable telecom C-band. Here, we exploit quantum frequency conversion to realize TPI at 1,550 nm with single photons stemming from two remote quantum dots. We thereby prove quantum frequency conversion^9-11 as a bridging technology and a precise and stable mechanism to erase the frequency difference between independent emitters. On resonance, a TPI visibility of 29  ± 3% has been observed, limited only by the spectral diffusion processes of the individual quantum dots^12,13. The local fibre network used covers several rooms between two floors of the building. Even the addition of up to 2 km of fibre channel shows no influence on the TPI visibility, proving the photon wavepacket distortion to be negligible. Our studies pave the way to establish long-distance entanglement distribution between remote solid-state emitters including interfaces with various quantum hybrid systems^14-16.

Optimal photonic indistinguishability tests in multimode networks

Particle indistinguishability is at the heart of quantum statistics that regulates fundamental phenomena such as the electronic band structure of solids, Bose-Einstein condensation and superconductivity. Moreover, it is necessary in practical applications such as linear optical quantum computation and simulation, in particular for Boson Sampling devices. It is thus crucial to develop tools to certify genuine multiphoton interference between multiple sources. Our approach employs the total variation distance to find those transformations that minimize the error probability in discriminating the behaviors of distinguishable and indistinguishable photons. In particular, we show that so-called Sylvester interferometers are near-optimal for this task. By using Bayesian tests and inference, we numerically show that Sylvester transformations largely outperform most Haar-random unitaries in terms of sample size required. Furthermore, we experimentally demonstrate the efficacy of the transformation using an efficient 3D integrated circuits in the single- and multiple-source cases. We then discuss the extension of this approach to a larger number of photons and modes. These results open the way to the application of Sylvester interferometers for optimal assessment of multiphoton interference experiments.

High Purcell factor generation of indistinguishable on-chip single photons

On-chip single-photon sources are key components for integrated photonic quantum technologies. Semiconductor quantum dots can exhibit near-ideal single-photon emission, but this can be significantly degraded in on-chip geometries owing to nearby etched surfaces. A long-proposed solution to improve the indistinguishablility is to use the Purcell effect to reduce the radiative lifetime. However, until now only modest Purcell enhancements have been observed. Here we use pulsed resonant excitation to eliminate slow relaxation paths, revealing a highly Purcell-shortened radiative lifetime (22.7 ps) in a waveguide-coupled quantum dot-photonic crystal cavity system. This leads to near-lifetime-limited single-photon emission that retains high indistinguishablility (93.9%) on a timescale in which 20 photons may be emitted. Nearly background-free pulsed resonance fluorescence is achieved under π-pulse excitation, enabling demonstration of an on-chip, on-demand single-photon source with very high potential repetition rates.

Toward Scalable Boson Sampling with Photon Loss

Boson sampling is a well-defined task that is strongly believed to be intractable for classical computers, but can be efficiently solved by a specific quantum simulator. However, an outstanding problem for large-scale experimental boson sampling is the scalability. Here we report an experiment on boson sampling with photon loss, and demonstrate that boson sampling with a few photons lost can increase the sampling rate. Our experiment uses a quantum-dot-micropillar single-photon source demultiplexed into up to seven input ports of a 16×16 mode ultralow-loss photonic circuit, and we detect three-, four- and fivefold coincidence counts. We implement and validate lossy boson sampling with one and two photons lost, and obtain sampling rates of 187, 13.6, and 0.78 kHz for five-, six-, and seven-photon boson sampling with two photons lost, which is 9.4, 13.9, and 18.0 times faster than the standard boson sampling, respectively. Our experiment shows an approach to significantly enhance the sampling rate of multiphoton boson sampling.

Simulating the vibrational quantum dynamics of molecules using photonics

Advances in control techniques for vibrational quantum states in molecules present new challenges for modelling such systems, which could be amenable to quantum simulation methods. Here, by exploiting a natural mapping between vibrations in molecules and photons in waveguides, we demonstrate a reprogrammable photonic chip as a versatile simulation platform for a range of quantum dynamic behaviour in different molecules. We begin by simulating the time evolution of vibrational excitations in the harmonic approximation for several four-atom molecules, including H₂CS, SO₃, HNCO, HFHF, N₄ and P₄. We then simulate coherent and dephased energy transport in the simplest model of the peptide bond in proteins-N-methylacetamide-and simulate thermal relaxation and the effect of anharmonicities in H₂O. Finally, we use multi-photon statistics with a feedback control algorithm to iteratively identify quantum states that increase a particular dissociation pathway of NH₃. These methods point to powerful new simulation tools for molecular quantum dynamics and the field of femtochemistry.

High fidelity heralded single-photon source using cavity quantum electrodynamics

Demands for single-photon sources are ubiquitous in quantum information processing as well as in quantum metrology. In many protocols for producing single photons, a cavity-emitter configuration is used. In such cavity quantum electrodynamical systems, the cavity can enforce a well-defined output mode for the photon and enhance its collection efficiency, while the emitter is indispensable for single photon emission. Here we show the two cavity-one two-level emitter configuration can be used to produce exclusively photon pairs, with each photon in a separate mode. Conditioning on detecting a photon in one of the modes, one heralds with high fidelity a single photon in the other mode. Counterintuitively, upon decreasing the coupling of the emitter to one of the modes, the heralding fidelity can further increase.

High-performance semiconductor quantum-dot single-photon sources

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.

Quantum State Transfer from a Single Photon to a Distant Quantum-Dot Electron Spin

Quantum state transfer from flying photons to stationary matter qubits is an important element in the realization of quantum networks. Self-assembled semiconductor quantum dots provide a promising solid-state platform hosting both single photon and spin, with an inherent light-matter interface. Here, we develop a method to coherently and actively control the single-photon frequency bins in superposition using electro-optic modulators, and measure the spin-photon entanglement with a fidelity of 0.796±0.020. Further, by Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-type state projection on the frequency, path, and polarization degrees of freedom of a single photon, we demonstrate quantum state transfer from a single photon to a single electron spin confined in an InGaAs quantum dot, separated by 5 m. The quantum state mapping from the photon's polarization to the electron's spin is demonstrated along three different axes on the Bloch sphere, with an average fidelity of 78.5%.

Phase-Tuned Entangled State Generation between Distant Spin Qubits

Quantum entanglement between distant qubits is an important feature of quantum networks. Distribution of entanglement over long distances can be enabled through coherently interfacing qubit pairs via photonic channels. Here, we report the realization of optically generated quantum entanglement between electron spin qubits confined in two distant semiconductor quantum dots. The protocol relies on spin-photon entanglement in the trionic Λ system and quantum erasure of the Raman-photon path information. The measurement of a single Raman photon is used to project the spin qubits into a joint quantum state with an interferometrically stabilized and tunable relative phase. We report an average Bell-state fidelity for |ψ^{(+)}⟩ and |ψ^{(-)}⟩ states of 61.6±2.3% and a record-high entanglement generation rate of 7.3 kHz between distant qubits.

Semiconductor devices for entangled photon pair generation: a review

Entanglement is one of the most fascinating properties of quantum mechanical systems; when two particles are entangled the measurement of the properties of one of the two allows the properties of the other to be instantaneously known, whatever the distance separating them. In parallel with fundamental research on the foundations of quantum mechanics performed on complex experimental set-ups, we assist today with bourgeoning of quantum information technologies bound to exploit entanglement for a large variety of applications such as secure communications, metrology and computation. Among the different physical systems under investigation, those involving photonic components are likely to play a central role and in this context semiconductor materials exhibit a huge potential in terms of integration of several quantum components in miniature chips. In this article we review the recent progress in the development of semiconductor devices emitting entangled photons. We will present the physical processes allowing the generation of entanglement and the tools to characterize it; we will give an overview of major recent results of the last few years and highlight perspectives for future developments.