Fundamental Studies of Light-Matter Interactions in Quantum Nanophotonics

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Our research group is active in the areas of nanophotonics and solid state quantum optics. Photonic nanostructures allow one to manipulate quantum interactions between light and matter with unprecedented control, and our work helps develop models and simulations to understand and exploit such phenomena to realize new quantum devices. The nature of our research reflects a broad range of interests in fields such as quantum optics, nanophotonics, condensed matter physics, and quantum information science. A strong network of experimental collaborations has been put in place, involving groups from York University/St. Andews, UK; Thales Research and Development, France; University of Stuttgart, Germany; University of British Columbia, Canada; National Research Council of Canada; Technical University of Berlin and the Niels Bohr Institute, Denmark. This proposal will investigate a wide range of photonic nanostructures such as semiconductor quantum dots, photonic crystal cavities, nanowire waveguides, and metal nanoresonators, to manipulate quantum light-matter interactions. Three target material systems include quantum dots, photonic crystal chips, and metal nanoresonators. Our work is important from both a fundamental science perspective in quantum optics and has applications for next-generation quantum- and nano-photonic technologies. For example, our research will be important for realizing nanoscale quantum light sources on a semiconductor chip. Quantum dots behave as "artificial atoms" that can produce single photons on demand, whilst the surrounding photonic medium can serve to control the storage and emission of the photons. Such quantum light sources will be optimized and will find use in quantum cryptography and are also an important first step toward chip-based quantum computing. The photonic crystal structures will allow one to control the local density of states of the photons, and manipulate how light propagates in the medium, enhancing both nonlinear and quantum light matter interactions. Metal nanoresonators create local plasmon resonances that allow extreme spatial confinement of light on a sub-wavelength scale and can act as a nanoantenna. In all these fields of research, numerical modelling is extremely challenging and quantum optical studies are still largely in its infancy. The impact of this discovery grant proposal will find broad uses through: (i) the development of a compendium of timely and efficient models to describe quantum optics in solid state nanostructures, (ii) extensive collaboration with experimental groups to test our theories and to explain their data, and (iii) providing a vigorous and stimulating training experience for trainee researchers in technological photonics areas that are important to the Canadian economy. Altogether, we will be providing training for at least six graduate students, five undergraduate students, and two PDFs.