Coherent manipulation, measurement and entanglement of individual solid-state spins using optical fields

Abstract

This Review covers recent advances in the implementation of spin–photon interfaces in semiconductor quantum dots, nitrogen–vacancy centres in diamond and emerging systems such as colour centres in other wide-bandgap materials. Realization of a quantum interface between stationary and flying qubits is a requirement for long-distance quantum communication and distributed quantum computation. The prospects for integrating many qubits on a single chip render solid-state spins promising candidates for stationary qubits. Certain solid-state systems, including quantum dots and nitrogen–vacancy centres in diamond, exhibit spin-state-dependent optical transitions, allowing for fast initialization, manipulation and measurement of the spins using laser excitation. Recent progress has brought spin photonics research in these materials into the quantum realm, allowing the demonstration of spin–photon entanglement, which in turn has enabled distant spin entanglement as well as quantum teleportation. Advances in the fabrication of photonic nanostructures hosting spin qubits suggest that chips incorporating a high-efficiency spin–photon interface in a quantum photonic network are within reach.