Abstract
A non-classical light source emitting pairs of identical photons represents a versatile resource of interdisciplinary importance with applications in quantum optics and quantum biology. To date, photon twins have mostly been generated using parametric downconversion sources, relying on Poissonian number distributions, or atoms, exhibiting low emission rates. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate the efficient, triggered generation of photon twins using the energy-degenerate biexciton–exciton radiative cascade of a single semiconductor quantum dot. Deterministically integrated within a microlens, this nanostructure emits highly correlated photon pairs, degenerate in energy and polarization, at a rate of up to (234±4) kHz. Furthermore, we verify a significant degree of photon indistinguishability and directly observe twin-photon emission by employing photon-number-resolving detectors, which enables the reconstruction of the emitted photon number distribution. Our work represents an important step towards the realization of efficient sources of twin-photon states on a fully scalable technology platform.
Highlights
A non-classical light source emitting pairs of identical photons represents a versatile resource of interdisciplinary importance with applications in quantum optics and quantum biology
We verify a significant degree of photon indistinguishability in Hong– Ou–Mandel (HOM) -type two-photon interference (TPI) experiments
The quantum dots (QDs) is deterministically integrated within a monolithic microlens (Fig. 1b) by means of 3D in-situ electron-beam lithography[31], which provides enhanced photon collection efficiency for the twin-photon generation process
Summary
A non-classical light source emitting pairs of identical photons represents a versatile resource of interdisciplinary importance with applications in quantum optics and quantum biology. Aside from the mere spirit of research, pursuing deeper access to the quantum world, the related research is strongly driven by applications in the fields of communication[8], information processing[9] and metrology[10] In this context, solid-state-based non-classical light emitters are of particular interest, due to the prospects of device integration and scalability. Semiconductor QDs, on the other hand, turned out to be excellent quantum emitters[19,20,21], which can produce single-photon states with high efficiency under triggered optical[22,23,24] as well as electrical[25] excitation They allow for the generation of correlated photon pairs by exploiting the biexciton-exciton radiative cascade[26]. Combining our concept of twin-photon generation with resonant excitation schemes, we anticipate potential for the generation of close-toideal twin-photon states on a fully scalable technology platform
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