Cavity QED and Confined Phonons in Semiconductor Quantum Dots

本论文主要研究半导体量子点中受限声子的相干操纵和腔QED。 在胶体量子点如CdSe纳米晶体中，不仅电子能级而且晶格振动都完全量子化。 这些量子点中的受限声子的性质将被研究和开发的介观系统中，一个或一个阵列的量子点强烈耦合到一个单一的模式的电磁场的发展。 相干非线性光学技术将被开发并用于这些量子点中受限声学声子的光学激发和检测。 在每个量子点的单个声子的水平上进行光学操纵，以及理解纳米机械系统中量子化机械激发的退相干是重要的目标。 一个腔QED系统，其中受限的声学声子耦合到高Q回音壁模在熔融石英微球通过驱动双光子拉曼跃迁也将被开发。 所提出的腔QED系统提供了一个独特的模型系统，用于隔离和操纵简单量子系统中的基本动力学过程，并用于创建量子点的受控纠缠。 除了在量子信息处理中的潜在应用外，胶体量子点中受限声子的光学操纵能力也可以刺激这些量子点作为纳米机械系统在生物学等领域的进一步应用。 该研究计划为研究生和本科生提供尖端研究技术的培训，包括光学，半导体物理，纳米技术和量子信息等领域，这些领域具有科学和技术的重要性。 这项培训将为他们在企业，工业和政府的一系列职业生涯做好准备。 本研究计划的重点是研究半导体量子点中的电子和机械激发。 在半导体量子点如尺寸为几纳米的CdSe纳米晶体中，电子和机械激发都是完全量子化或完全离散的。 电子和机械激发的性质将通过使用相干非线性光学技术进行研究，并将用于开发介观系统，其中单个或一组量子点强烈耦合到电磁场的单模。 这种复合量子点微腔系统可用于简单量子系统中动力学过程的相干操纵和量子信息处理的探索，这是一个具有相当重要技术意义的领域。 半导体纳米晶体中机械激发的光学操纵能力也可以刺激这些量子点作为纳米机械系统在生物学等领域的进一步应用。 参与该计划的学生在光学，半导体物理，纳米技术和量子信息等领域接受严格的培训，这些领域具有科学和技术的重要性，可以在工业，工业和政府中从事职业生涯。

This research is focused on coherent manipulation and cavity QED of confined phonons in semiconductor quantum dots. In colloidal quantum dots such as CdSe nanocrystals, not only electronic energy levels but also lattice vibrations are completely quantized. Properties of confined phonons in these quantum dots will be investigated and exploited for the development of a mesoscopic system in which a single or an array of quantum dots couple strongly to a single mode of electromagnetic fields. Coherent nonlinear optical techniques will be developed and used for the optical excitation and detection of confined acoustic phonons in these quantum dots. Optical manipulation at the level of a single phonon per quantum dot, and understanding decoherence of quantized mechanical excitations in a nanomechanical system are important goals. A cavity QED system where confined acoustic phonons coupling to a high-Q whispering gallery mode in a fused silica microsphere through a driven two-photon Raman transition will also be developed. The proposed cavity QED system provides a unique model system for isolating and manipulating fundamental dynamical processes in simple quantum systems and for creating controlled entanglement of quantum dots. In addition to potential applications in quantum information processing, the ability of optical manipulation of confined phonons in colloidal quantum dots can also stimulate further applications of these quantum dots as nanomechanical systems in areas such as biology. The research program provides training for graduate and undergraduate students in cutting edge research techniques in areas including optics, semiconductor physics, nanotechnology, and quantum information that are of both scientific and technological importance. This training will prepare them for a range of careers in academe, industry, and government. This research program is focused on studies of electronic and mechanical excitations in semiconductor quantum dots. In semiconductor quantum dots such as CdSe nanocrystals with a dimension of a few nanometers, both electronic and mechanical excitations are completely quantized or completely discrete. Properties of electronic and mechanical excitations will be investigated by using coherent nonlinear optical techniques and will be exploited for the development of a mesoscopic system in which a single or an array of quantum dots couple strongly to a single mode of electromagnetic fields. This composite quantum dot microcavity system can be used for the coherent manipulation of dynamical processes in simple quantum systems and for the exploration of quantum information processing, an area of considerable technological importance. The ability of optical manipulation of mechanical excitations in semiconductor nanocrystals can also stimulate further applications of these quantum dots as nanomechanical systems in areas such as biology. Students involved in this program receive rigorous training in areas including optics, semiconductor physics, nanotechnology, and quantum information that are of both scientific and technological importance and can pursue careers in academe, industry, and government.