Ultrafast Single-Photon Emitters Using Plasmonic Cavities

这个计划的目标是研究在半导体量子点中，如何连续和确定地产生光子，直到单光子水平，并以太赫兹速率向上。智能上的优点是将半导体材料的单光子产生率提高了至少3个数量级，进入太赫兹区域。极短的辐射寿命也可以使难以分辨的光子健壮地产生。加上宽禁带半导体量子点材料的选择，有望在液氮温度及以上实现上述目标，这在半导体光学领域具有变革性的意义。该项目的成功完成将为量子密码学和量子信息处理应用提供关键的资源，并可能为以极高的速度实现光互连开辟新的机会，只需要亚阿托焦耳的开关能量。更广泛的影响是在半导体材料和教育组件中单光子产生的超快动力学背景下，材料科学、合成、设备物理、量子光学和多体物理的进步。其结果可能会产生深远的影响，并对节能通信网络、芯片上的光学互连和固态照明产生影响。该教育计划的重点是旨在吸引K-12学生学习物理和工程科学的外展和多样性计划。它还包括针对本科生的固态照明和多学科项目的课程开发。

The objective of this program is to investigate how fast photons can be generated successively and deterministically, down to the single-photon level and up at a terahertz rate, in semiconductor quantum dots. The intellectual merit is to advance the single-photon generation rate from semiconductor materials up by at least 3 orders of magnitude into the terahertz regime. The extremely short radiative lifetime can also allow indistinguishable photons to be robustly generated. Together with the choice of wide-bandgap semiconductor quantum dot materials, it is expected to realize the above goals at a liquid nitrogen temperature and above, which is transformative in the field of semiconductor optics. Successful conclusion of this project will provide critical resources for quantum cryptography and quantum information processing applications, and may open up a new opportunity for optical interconnect at an extremely high speed and requiring only a sub-atto joule of switching energy. The broader impacts are the advancements of materials science, synthesis, device physics, quantum optics, and many-body physics in the context of ultrafast dynamics of single-photon generation in semiconductor materials and the education components. The results can be far reaching and impact energy-efficient communication network, optical interconnect on the chip, and solid-state lighting. The education plan focuses on outreach and diversity programs aiming to engage K-12 students for physical and engineering science. It also includes curriculum developments on solid-state lighting and multidisciplinary projects for undergraduate students.