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A bright triggered twin-photon source in the solid state

Author

Listed:
  • T. Heindel

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin)

  • A. Thoma

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin)

  • M. von Helversen

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin)

  • M. Schmidt

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin
    Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt)

  • A. Schlehahn

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin)

  • M. Gschrey

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin)

  • P. Schnauber

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin)

  • J. -H. Schulze

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin)

  • A. Strittmatter

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin
    Present address: Institut für Experimentelle Physik, Otto-von-Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany)

  • J. Beyer

    (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt)

  • S. Rodt

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin)

  • A. Carmele

    (Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 36)

  • A. Knorr

    (Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstraße 36)

  • S. Reitzenstein

    (Institut für Festkörperphysik, Technische Universität Berlin)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • T. Heindel & A. Thoma & M. von Helversen & M. Schmidt & A. Schlehahn & M. Gschrey & P. Schnauber & J. -H. Schulze & A. Strittmatter & J. Beyer & S. Rodt & A. Carmele & A. Knorr & S. Reitzenstein, 2017. "A bright triggered twin-photon source in the solid state," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms14870
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14870
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