A highly efficient single photon-single quantum dot interface

Semiconductor quantum dots are a promising system to build a solid state quantum network. A critical step in this area is to build an efficient interface between a stationary quantum bit and a flying one. In this chapter, we show how cavity quantum electrodynamics allows us to efficiently interface a single quantum dot with a propagating electromagnetic field. Beyond the well known Purcell factor, we discuss the various parameters that need to be optimized to build such an interface. We then review our recent progresses in terms of fabrication of bright sources of indistinguishable single photons, where a record brightness of 79% is obtained as well as a high degree of indistinguishability of the emitted photons. Symmetrically, optical nonlinearities at the very few photon level are demonstrated, by sending few photon pulses at a quantum dot-cavity device operating in the strong coupling regime. Perspectives and future challenges are briefly discussed.Comment: to appear as a book chapter in a compilation "Engineering the Atom-Photon Interaction" published by Springer in 2015, edited by A. Predojevic and M. W. Mitchel

Nanocrystals in silicon photonic crystal standing-wave cavities as spin-photon phase gates for quantum information processing

By virtue of a silicon high-Q photonic crystal nanocavity, we propose and examine theoretically interactions between a stationary electron spin qubit of a semiconductor nanocrystal and a flying photon qubit. Firstly, we introduce, derive and demonstrate for the first time the explicit conditions towards realization of a spin-photon two-qubit phase gate, and propose these interactions as a generalized quantum interface for quantum information processing. Secondly, we examine novel single-spin-induced reflections as direct evidence of intrinsic bare and dressed modes in our coupled nanocrystal-cavity system. The excellent physical integration of this silicon system provides tremendous potential for large-scale quantum information processing

Quantum gate for Q switching in monolithic photonic bandgap cavities containing two-level atoms

Photonic bandgap cavities are prime solid-state systems to investigate light-matter interactions in the strong coupling regime. However, as the cavity is defined by the geometry of the periodic dielectric pattern, cavity control in a monolithic structure can be problematic. Thus, either the state coherence is limited by the read-out channel, or in a high Q cavity, it is nearly decoupled from the external world, making measurement of the state extremely challenging. We present here a method for ameliorating these difficulties by using a coupled cavity arrangement, where one cavity acts as a switch for the other cavity, tuned by control of the atomic transition.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl