Nonradiative Quantum Coherences in Semiconductors

本文主要研究半导体纳米结构中电子自旋相干引起的相干非线性光学现象。一个主要的目标是将量子光学概念扩展到半导体中，这些概念最初是在简单原子系统中发展起来的。本项目将研究半导体中固有但在简单原子系统中不存在的多体相互作用如何影响由电子自旋相干引起的相干光学过程。利用半导体波导中的带间光学跃迁，该项目还将追求光和电子自旋相干之间的可逆映射，其长期目标是将光子的量子信息存储为半导体中的相干和稳健的电子自旋波。在这个项目中进行的研究为半导体物理、纳米技术和量子信息的研究生和本科生提供培训。材料研究部的凝聚态物理项目和物理部的原子、分子和光学物理项目共同资助这项工作。虽然经典信息的存储已经是一项成熟的技术，但光量子信息的存储仍然是一个科学和技术挑战。最近，有人提出原子蒸气中的电子自旋相干性可以用作光子的量子存储器。该项目的一个主要目标是将这种方法扩展到半导体。提出的研究包括详细研究半导体纳米结构中电子自旋相干引起的相干非线性光学现象，以及在半导体波导中使用电子自旋相干来存储光的量子信息。在这个项目中进行的研究为研究生和本科生提供了半导体物理、纳米技术和量子信息方面的优秀培训，为他们在学术界、工业界或政府的职业生涯做好准备。材料研究部的凝聚态物理项目和物理部的原子、分子和光学物理项目共同资助了这项工作。

The proposed research focuses on studies of coherent nonlinear optical phenomena induced by electron spin coherence in semiconductor nanostructures. A main objective is to extend quantum optics concepts originally developed in simple atomic systems to semiconductors. This project will investigate how manybody interactions, which are inherent in semiconductors but absent in simple atomic systems, affect coherent optical processes induced by the electron spin coherence. Using interband optical transitions in a semiconductor waveguide, this project will also pursue the reversible mapping between light and electron spin coherence, with the long term goal of storing quantum information for photons as a coherent and robust electron spin wave in semiconductors. Research conducted in this program provides training for graduate and undergraduate students in semiconductor physics, nanotechnology, and quantum information. The Condensed Matter Physics Program in the Division of Materials Research and the Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics program in the Physics Division fund this work jointly. While storage of classical information has been a well-established technology, storage of quantum information for light has remained a scientific and technological challenge. Recently, it has been proposed that electron spin coherence in atomic vapors can be used as quantum memory for photons. A main objective of this project is to extend this approach to semiconductors. The proposed research includes detailed studies of coherent nonlinear optical phenomena induced by electron spin coherence in semiconductor nanostructures and the use of electron spin coherence in a semiconductor waveguide to store quantum information of light. Research conducted in this program provides excellent training for graduate and undergraduate students in semiconductor physics, nanotechnology, and quantum information, preparing them for careers in academe, industry, or government. The Condensed Matter Physics Program in the Division of Materials Research and the Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Program in the Physics Division fund this work jointly.