Controlling light emission from single-photon sources using photonic nanowires

The photonic nanowire has recently emerged as an promising alternative to microcavity-based single-photon source designs. In this simple structure, a geometrical effect ensures a strong coupling between an embedded emitter and the optical mode of interest and a combination of tapers and mirrors are used to tailor the far-field emission pattern.

This non-resonant approach relaxes the demands to fabrication perfection, allowing for record-high measured efficiency of fabricated nanowire single-photon sources. We review recent progress in photonic nanowire technology and present next generation designs allowing for electrical contacting, polarization control, improved efficiency and simplified fabrication.