PECASE: Coherent Interactions Between Photons and Quantum Dots Using Photonic Crystals

半导体量子点作为量子物理研究和量子技术发展的一种有前途的单原子替代物，已得到广泛的研究。在这项研究计划中，PI将使用光子晶体结构来修改和增强QD特性，允许QD和光子场之间的相干相互作用。这种相互作用是光子量子信息处理的基本要素。智力优势：PI旨在设计，制造和光学表征纳米光子器件，以在超快时间尺度上相干控制和探测量子点的量子力学波函数。该设备将由光子晶体腔波导结构组成，具有将光定位到立方波长内的能力。 这种局域化在量子点和光场之间产生了强烈的相互作用，这将用于研究具有改进性能的光电器件，研究量子点的基本物理特性，以及在量子点和光子之间产生纠缠。此外，量子点-光子纠缠将作为在空间分离的量子点之间创建光学互连的方法进行研究，以开发集成量子器件。更广泛的影响：拟议的研究将有助于在量子水平上控制半导体纳米结构以及相干光-物质相互作用方面开发新的基础概念。 该提案还包括广泛的教育外联工作。PI最近开发了一个本科生暑期实习计划，使马里兰州的学生参与领先的研究。 他将把这个项目扩大到包括当地的高中生。

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been extensively researched as a promising alternative to single atoms for the study of quantum physics and development of quantum technology. In this research program the PI will use photonic crystal structures to modify and enhance QD properties, allowing coherent interactions between a QD and a photon field. Such interactions are essential elements of photonic quantum information processing. Intellectual Merit: The PI aims to design, fabricate, and optically characterize nanophotonic devices to coherently control and probe the quantum mechanical wavefunction of quantum dots on ultra-fast timescales. The devices will be composed of photonic crystal cavity-waveguide structures that have the ability to localize light to within a cubic wavelength. This localization creates strong interactions between a QD and an optical field, which will be used to investigate opto-electronic devices with improved performance, study basic physical properties of QDs, and create entanglement between QDs and photons. In addition, QD-photon entanglement will be studied as a method for creating optical interconnects between spatially separated QDs to develop integrated quantum devices.Broader impact: The proposed research will help develop new fundamental concepts in the control of semiconductor nanostructures at the quantum level, as well as coherent light-matter interactions. The proposal also includes an extensive educational outreach effort. The PI has recently developed an undergraduate summer internship program which enables University of Maryland students to participate in leading research. He will expand this program to include local high school students.