Near Transform-Limited Quantum Dot Linewidths in a Broadband Photonic Crystal Waveguide

Planar nanophotonic structures enable broadband, near-unity coupling of emission from quantum dots embeddedwithin, thereby realizing ideal singe-photon sources. The efficiency and coherence of the single-photon source islimited by charge noise, which results in the broadening of the emission spectrum. We report suppression of the noiseby fabricating photonic crystal waveguides in a gallium arsenide membrane containing quantum dots embedded in ap-i-ndiode. Local electrical contacts in the vicinity of the waveguides minimize the leakage current and allow fastelectrical control (≈4 MHz bandwidth) of the quantum dot resonances. Resonant linewidth measurements of 79 quan-tum dots coupled to the photonic crystal waveguides exhibit near transform-limited emission over a 6 nm wide range ofemission wavelengths. Importantly, the local electrical contacts allow independent tuning of multiple quantum dots onthe same chip, which together with the transform-limited emission are key components in realizing multiemitter-basedquantum information processing

On-chip deterministic operation of quantum dots in dual-mode waveguides for a plug-and-play single-photon source

A deterministic source of coherent single photons is an enabling device of quantum-information processing for quantum simulators, and ultimately a full-fledged quantum internet. Quantum dots (QDs) in nanophotonic structures have been employed as excellent sources of single photons, and planar waveguides are well suited for scaling up to multiple photons and emitters exploring near-unity photon-emitter coupling and advanced active on-chip functionalities. An ideal single-photon source requires suppressing noise and decoherence, which notably has been demonstrated in electrically-contacted heterostructures. It remains a challenge to implement deterministic resonant excitation of the QD required for generating coherent single photons, since residual light from the excitation laser should be suppressed without compromising source efficiency and scalability. Here, we present the design and realization of a novel planar nanophotonic device that enables deterministic pulsed resonant excitation of QDs through the waveguide. Through nanostructure engineering, the excitation light and collected photons are guided in two orthogonal waveguide modes enabling deterministic operation. We demonstrate a coherent single-photon source that simultaneously achieves high-purity ($g^{(2)}(0)$ = 0.020 $\pm$ 0.005), high-indistinguishability ($V$ = 96 $\pm$ 2 %), and $>$80 % coupling efficiency into the waveguide. The novel `plug-and-play' coherent single-photon source could be operated unmanned for several days and will find immediate applications, e.g., for constructing heralded multi-photon entanglement sources for photonic quantum computing or sensing.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

Spin-photon interface and spin-controlled photon switching in a nanobeam waveguide

Access to the electron spin is at the heart of many protocols for integrated and distributed quantum-information processing [1-4]. For instance, interfacing the spin-state of an electron and a photon can be utilized to perform quantum gates between photons [2,5] or to entangle remote spin states [6-9]. Ultimately, a quantum network of entangled spins constitutes a new paradigm in quantum optics [1]. Towards this goal, an integrated spin-photon interface would be a major leap forward. Here we demonstrate an efficient and optically programmable interface between the spin of an electron in a quantum dot and photons in a nanophotonic waveguide. The spin can be deterministically prepared with a fidelity of 96\%. Subsequently the system is used to implement a "single-spin photonic switch", where the spin state of the electron directs the flow of photons through the waveguide. The spin-photon interface may enable on-chip photon-photon gates [2], single-photon transistors [10], and efficient photonic cluster state generation [11]

Reading tea leaves worldwide: Decoupled drivers of initial litter decomposition mass-loss rate and stabilization

The breakdown of plant material fuels soil functioning and biodiversity. Currently, process understanding of global decomposition patterns and the drivers of such patterns are hampered by the lack of coherent large-scale datasets. We buried 36,000 individual litterbags (tea bags) worldwide and found an overall negative correlation between initial mass-loss rates and stabilization factors of plant-derived carbon, using the Tea Bag Index (TBI). The stabilization factor quantifies the degree to which easy-to-degrade components accumulate during early-stage decomposition (e.g. by environmental limitations). However, agriculture and an interaction between moisture and temperature led to a decoupling between initial mass-loss rates and stabilization, notably in colder locations. Using TBI improved mass-loss estimates of natural litter compared to models that ignored stabilization. Ignoring the transformation of dead plant material to more recalcitrant substances during early-stage decomposition, and the environmental control of this transformation, could overestimate carbon losses during early decomposition in carbon cycle models

Reading tea leaves worldwide: decoupled drivers of initial litter decomposition mass‐loss rate and stabilization

The breakdown of plant material fuels soil functioning and biodiversity. Currently, process understanding of global decomposition patterns and the drivers of such patterns are hampered by the lack of coherent large‐scale datasets. We buried 36,000 individual litterbags (tea bags) worldwide and found an overall negative correlation between initial mass‐loss rates and stabilization factors of plant‐derived carbon, using the Tea Bag Index (TBI). The stabilization factor quantifies the degree to which easy‐to‐degrade components accumulate during early‐stage decomposition (e.g. by environmental limitations). However, agriculture and an interaction between moisture and temperature led to a decoupling between initial mass‐loss rates and stabilization, notably in colder locations. Using TBI improved mass‐loss estimates of natural litter compared to models that ignored stabilization. Ignoring the transformation of dead plant material to more recalcitrant substances during early‐stage decomposition, and the environmental control of this transformation, could overestimate carbon losses during early decomposition in carbon cycle models

25th annual computational neuroscience meeting: CNS-2016

The same neuron may play different functional roles in the neural circuits to which it belongs. For example, neurons in the Tritonia pedal ganglia may participate in variable phases of the swim motor rhythms [1]. While such neuronal functional variability is likely to play a major role the delivery of the functionality of neural systems, it is difficult to study it in most nervous systems. We work on the pyloric rhythm network of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion (STG) [2]. Typically network models of the STG treat neurons of the same functional type as a single model neuron (e.g. PD neurons), assuming the same conductance parameters for these neurons and implying their synchronous firing [3, 4]. However, simultaneous recording of PD neurons shows differences between the timings of spikes of these neurons. This may indicate functional variability of these neurons. Here we modelled separately the two PD neurons of the STG in a multi-neuron model of the pyloric network. Our neuron models comply with known correlations between conductance parameters of ionic currents. Our results reproduce the experimental finding of increasing spike time distance between spikes originating from the two model PD neurons during their synchronised burst phase. The PD neuron with the larger calcium conductance generates its spikes before the other PD neuron. Larger potassium conductance values in the follower neuron imply longer delays between spikes, see Fig. 17.Neuromodulators change the conductance parameters of neurons and maintain the ratios of these parameters [5]. Our results show that such changes may shift the individual contribution of two PD neurons to the PD-phase of the pyloric rhythm altering their functionality within this rhythm. Our work paves the way towards an accessible experimental and computational framework for the analysis of the mechanisms and impact of functional variability of neurons within the neural circuits to which they belong