My research is focused on solid-state quantum optics. In the past few years I have, for example, investigated methods to collect single photons with near-unity efficiency. Another emphasis is on techniques which can be used to enhance the interaction of a single photon with a single emitter.
The feasibility of many proposals in nano quantum-optics depends on the efficient coupling of photons to individual quantum emitters, the possibility to control this interaction on demand, and the scalability of the experimental platform. To address these issues, we report on chip-based systems made of one-dimensional subwavelength dielectric waveguides (nanoguides) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules. We discuss the design and fabrication requirements, present data on extinction spectroscopy of single molecules coupled to a nanoguide mode, and show how an external optical beam can switch the propagation of light via a nonlinear optical process. The presented architecture paves the way for the investigation of many-body phenomena and polaritonic states and can be readily extended to more complex geometries for the realization of quantum integrated photonic circuits.
Strong plasmonic enhancement of biexciton emission: controlled coupling of a single quantum dot to a gold nanocone antenna
Korenobu Matsuzaki,
Simon Vassant,
Hsuan-Wei Liu,
Anke Dutschke,
Bjoern Hoffmann,
Xuewen Chen,
Silke Christiansen,
Matthew R. Buck,
Jennifer A. Hollingsworth, et al.
Multiexcitonic transitions and emission of several photons per excitation comprise a very attractive feature of semiconductor quantum dots for optoelectronics applications. However, these higher-order radiative processes are usually quenched in colloidal quantum dots by Auger and other nonradiative decay channels. To increase the multiexcitonic quantum efficiency, several groups have explored plasmonic enhancement, so far with moderate results. By controlled positioning of individual quantum dots in the near field of gold nanocone antennas, we enhance the radiative decay rates of monoexcitons and biexcitons by 109 and 100 folds at quantum efficiencies of 60 and 70%, respectively, in very good agreement with the outcome of numerical calculations. We discuss the implications of our work for future fundamental and applied research in nano-optics.
Experimental realization of an absolute single-photon source based on a
single nitrogen vacancy center in a nanodiamond
Beatrice Rodiek,
Marco Lopez,
Helmuth Hofer,
Geiland Porrovecchio,
Marek Smid,
Xiao-Liu Chu,
Stephan Gotzinger,
Vahid Sandoghdar,
Sarah Lindner, et al.
We report on the experimental realization of an absolute single-photon source based on a single nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in a nanodiamond at room temperature and on the calculation of its absolute spectral photon flux from experimental data. The single-photon source was calibrated with respect to its photon flux and its spectral photon rate density. The photon flux was measured with a low-noise silicon photodiode traceable to the primary standard for optical flux, taking into account the absolute spectral power distribution using a calibrated spectroradiometer. The optical radiant flux is adjustable from 55 fW, which is almost the lowest detection limit for the silicon photodiode, and 75 fW, which is the saturation power of the NV center. These fluxes correspond to total photon flux rates between 190,000 photons per second and 260,000 photons per second, respectively. The single-photon emission purity is indicated by a g((2))(0) value, which is between 0.10 and 0.23, depending on the excitation power. To our knowledge, this is the first single-photon source absolutely calibrated with respect to its absolute optical radiant flux and spectral power distribution, traceable to the corresponding national standards via an unbroken traceability chain. The prospects for its application, e.g., for the detection efficiency calibration of single-photon detectors as well as for use as a standard photon source in the low photon flux regime, are promising. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America
Coherent Coupling of a Single Molecule to a Scanning Fabry-Perot
Microcavity
Daqing Wang,
Hrishikesh Kelkar,
Diego-Martin Cano,
Tobias Utikal,
Stephan Goetzinger,
Vahid Sandoghdar
Organic dye molecules have been used in a great number of scientific and technological applications, but their wider use in quantum optics has been hampered by transitions to short-lived vibrational levels, which limit their coherence properties. To remedy this, one can take advantage of optical resonators. Here, we present the first results on coherent molecule-resonator coupling, where a single polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecule extinguishes 38% of the light entering a microcavity at liquid helium temperature. We also demonstrate fourfold improvement of single-molecule stimulated emission compared to free-space focusing and take first steps for coherent mechanical manipulation of the molecular transition. Our approach of coupling molecules to an open and tunable microcavity with a very low mode volume and moderately low quality factors of the order of 10(3) paves the way for the realization of nonlinear and collective quantum optical effects.
Small slot waveguide rings for on-chip quantum optical circuits
Nir Rotenberg,
Pierre Tuerschmann,
Harald R. Haakh,
Diego-Martin Cano,
Stephan Goetzinger,
Vahid Sandoghdar
Nanophotonic interfaces between single emitters and light promise to enable new quantum optical technologies. Here, we use a combination of finite element simulations and analytic quantum theory to investigate the interaction of various quantum emitters with slot-waveguide rings. We predict that for rings with radii as small as 1.44 mu m, with a Q-factor of 27,900, near-unity emitter-waveguide coupling efficiencies and emission enhancements on the order of 1300 can be achieved. By tuning the ring geometry or introducing losses, we show that realistic emitter-ring systems can be made to be either weakly or strongly coupled, so that we can observe Rabi oscillations in the decay dynamics even for micron-sized rings. Moreover, we demonstrate that slot waveguide rings can be used to directionally couple emission, again with near-unity efficiency. Our results pave the way for integrated solid-state quantum circuits involving various emitters. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America
A single molecule as a high-fidelity photon gun for producing
intensity-squeezed light
Xiao-Liu Chu,
Stephan Goetzinger,
Vahid Sandoghdar
A two-level atom cannot emit more than one photon at a time. As early as the 1980s, this quantum feature was identified as a gateway to 'single-photon sources', where a regular excitation sequence would create a stream of light particles with photon number fluctuations below the shot noise(1). Such an intensity-squeezed beam of light would be desirable for a range of applications, such as quantum imaging, sensing, enhanced precision measurements and information processing(2,3). However, experimental realizations of these sources have been hindered by large losses caused by low photon-collection efficiencies and photophysical shortcomings. By using a planar metallodielectric antenna applied to an organic molecule, we demonstrate the most regular stream of single photons reported to date. The measured intensity fluctuations were limited by our detection efficiency and amounted to 2.2 dB squeezing.
Experimental demonstration of a predictable single photon source with
variable photon flux
Aigar Vaigu,
Geiland Porrovecchio,
Xiao-Liu Chu,
Sarah Lindner,
Marek Smid,
Albert Manninen,
Christoph Becher,
Vahid Sandoghdar,
Stephan Gotzinger, et al.
We present a predictable single-photon source (SPS) based on a silicon vacancy centre in nanodiamond which is optically excited by a pulsed laser. At an excitation rate of 70 MHz the source delivers a photon flux large enough to be measured by a low optical flux detector (LOFD). The directly measured photon flux constitutes an absolute reference. By changing the repetition rate of the pulsed laser, we are able to change the photon flux of our SPS in a controllable way which in turn can act as a reference. The advantage of our method is that it does not require precise knowledge of the source efficiency, but the source is calibrated by the LOFD and can be used for detector responsivity characterizations at the few-photon level.
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