Preprint article · Journal article
Phonon scattering inhibits simultaneous near-unity efficiency and indistinguishability in semiconductor single-photon sources
Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have recently emerged as a leading platform to generate highly indistinguishable photons efficiently, and this work addresses the timely question of how good these solid-state sources can ultimately be. We establish the crucial role of lattice relaxation in these systems in giving rise to trade-offs between indistinguishability and efficiency.
We analyse the two source architectures most commonly employed: a QD embedded in a waveguide and a QD coupled to an optical cavity. For waveguides, we demonstrate that the broadband Purcell effect results in a simple inverse relationship, in which indistinguishability and efficiency cannot be simultaneously increased.
For cavities, the frequency selectivity of the Purcell enhancement results in a more subtle trade-off, in which indistinguishability and efficiency can be increased simultaneously, although not arbitrarily, which limits a source with near-unity indistinguishability (> 99%) to an efficiency of approximately 96% for realistic parameters.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | Nature Publishing Group |
Year: | 2017 |
Pages: | 521-526 |
ISSN: | 17494893 and 17494885 |
Types: | Preprint article and Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1038/NPHOTON.2017.101 |
ORCIDs: | Mørk, Jesper |
Atomic and Molecular Physics Economic and social effects Efficiency Frequency selectivity High Energy Physics Indistinguishability Inverse relationship Lattice relaxation Optical cavities Particle beams Photons Production Engineering Purcell effect Quantum Theory Quantum theory Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits Semiconductor quantum dots Single-photon source Social Sciences Solid-state sources Waveguides