Efficient Generation of N-Photon Bundles Using a Solid State Cavity QED System

非技术描述本项目的目标是开发一个新的平台(系统)来研究光和物质之间的强相互作用，并利用它来产生包含精确确定的整数个不可分割的光-光子粒子(N)的光脉冲。该系统包括一组纳米大小的镜子，使光(纳米级腔体)围绕半导体人造原子(量子点)循环。这实现了单个光子之间的强相互作用，否则这是不可能的。该系统用一系列激光脉冲(由非相互作用的光子组成，其中每个脉冲的光子数不是很明确的)来探测。当激光脉冲进入该介质时，该介质在每个脉冲中过滤(选择)所需数量的光子，并将其传输到输出。潜在的应用包括在安全量子通信、量子模拟和量子传感方面的改进。因此，这项工作将光子和量子工程与材料科学、纳米技术和基础物理结合在一起。该项目包含与研究相结合的教育和推广活动，包括积极招募少数民族和妇女从事科学和工程职业，开发新的班级和教科书，本科生研究和建议，以及参与针对K-12学生和教师的扩展计划。技术说明本项目的重点是继续量子点-纳米腔量子电动力学的基础研究，更具体地说，探索此类系统在失谐区域的强非线性特性，并利用从这些研究中获得的知识开发高度相关的光子(难以区分的单光子和按需的n光子束)的芯片上来源。实现这些目标的平台包括高品质因数和小模式体积的光子晶体谐振器，这些谐振器耦合到单个电可调量子点。这种方法可以导致近乎完美的光子不可分辨和高光子束生成率，同时优先生成每个脉冲所需的光子数量。具体的研究目标是研究共振驱动和失谐的强耦合量子点腔系统，并利用它来根据需要开发高计数率的不可区分的单光子和n光子束源。产生超出单光子水平的非经典光态的能力为量子通信和量子传感的新概念铺平了道路。因此，这里描述的研究活动不仅对专注于量子纳米光子学或非线性光学的社区有广泛的影响，而且对那些探索传感器或量子技术的社区也有广泛的影响。

Non-technical descriptionThe goal of this project is to develop a new platform (system) for studying the strong interaction between light and matter, and to employ it to generate pulses of light containing a precisely determined integer number (n) of indivisible particles of light - photons. The system comprises a set of nano-sized mirrors that recirculate light (a nanoscale cavity) around a semiconductor artificial atom (a quantum dot). This enables a strong interaction between individual photons, which is otherwise impossible. The system is probed with a series of laser pulses (consisting of non-interacting photons, where the number of photons per pulse is not well-defined). When laser pulses enter this medium, the medium filters (selects) a desired number of photons per each pulse and transmits them to the output. The potential applications include improvements in secure quantum communication, quantum simulation, and quantum sensing. This work therefore combines photonic and quantum engineering with materials science, nanotechnology, and fundamental physics. The project contains educational and outreach activities integrated with research, including active recruitment of minorities and women for science and engineering careers, development of new classes and textbooks, undergraduate research and advising, and participation in outreach programs for K-12 students and teachers.Technical descriptionThe focus of this project is to continue fundamental studies of quantum dot-nanocavity quantum electrodynamics, and more specifically, to explore the strong nonlinear properties of such systems in the detuned regime, and to use the knowledge gained from these studies to develop on-chip sources of highly correlated photons (indistinguishable single photons and n-photon bundles on demand). A platform to achieve these goals consists of high quality factor and small mode volume photonic crystal resonators that are coupled to single, electrically tunable quantum dots. This approach can lead to nearly perfect photon indistinguishability and high photon bundle generation rates, while preferentially generating the desired number of photons per pulse. The specific research goals are to study the resonantly driven and detuned strongly coupled quantum dot-cavity system, and to use it to develop sources of indistinguishable single photons and n-photon bundles on demand with high count rates. The ability to generate nonclassical states of light beyond the single-photon level paves the way for novel concepts in quantum communication and quantum sensing. Therefore, the research activities described here have a broad impact on not only the communities focused on quantum nanophotonics or nonlinear optics, but also on those exploring sensors or quantum technologies.