Monolayer-Based Single-Photon Source in a Liquid-Helium-Free Open Cavity Featuring 65% Brightness and Quantum Coherence.

Abstract

Solid-state single-photon sources are central building blocks in quantum information processing. Atomically thin crystals have emerged as sources of nonclassical light; however, they perform below the state-of-the-art devices based on volume crystals. Here, we implement a bright single-photon source based on an atomically thin sheet of WSe2 coupled to a tunable optical cavity in a liquid-helium-free cryostat without the further need for active stabilization. Its performance is characterized by high single-photon purity (g(2)(0) = 4.7 ± 0.7%) and record-high, first-lens brightness of linearly polarized photons of 65 ± 4%, representing a decisive step toward real-world quantum applications. The high performance of our devices allows us to observe two-photon interference in a Hong-Ou-Mandel experiment with 2% visibility limited by the emitter coherence time and setup resolution. Our results thus demonstrate that the combination of the unique properties of two-dimensional materials and versatile open cavities emerges as an inspiring avenue for novel quantum optoelectronic devices.