GaSb/GaAs quantum ring single photon LEDs (QR_SPLEDs)

量子技术利用量子力学所描述的奇异性质，以前所未有的速度，准确性或全新的功能提供设备。量子密码就是这样一种技术：通信的安全性由量子力学的基本定律保证。量子密码学的实现依赖于根据需要产生非常低强度甚至单个光子的能力。几种不同的物理系统已被用于产生单光子，但很少有适合商业生产的。理想的单光子源应该是快速、廉价和高效的，在室温下工作，并发射现有光纤电信网络中使用的波长的光子。实际的单光子源被期望有点像被称为垂直腔面发射激光器（VCSEL）的半导体激光二极管。我们将评估以单光子发光二极管（SPLED）的形式大规模生产低成本单光子源的可行性。这些将利用称为自组装量子环的半导体纳米结构的独特性质，我们最近将其用于新型VCSEL中，这些VCSEL在非常低的电流和高达110°C的温度下工作。

Quantum technologies exploit the exotic properties of nature described by quantum mechanics to deliver devices with unprecedented speed, accuracy or completely new functionalities. Quantum cryptography is one such technology: communication whose security is guaranteed by fundamental laws of quantum mechanics. The implementation of quantum cryptography relies on the ability to generate very low intensities or even single photons of light on demand . Several different physical systems have been used to generate single photons, but very few of them are suitable for commercial production. An ideal single photon source should be fast, cheap and efficient, operate at room temperature, and emit photons at the wavelengths used in existing optical-fibre telecoms networks. A practical single photon source is expected to be somewhat like a type of semiconductor laser diode called a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL ). We will assess the feasibility of mass-producing low-cost single-photon sources in the form of single-photon light emitting diodes (SPLEDs). These will exploit the unique properties of semiconductor nanostructures called self-assembled quantum rings, which we have recently used in novel VCSELs that operate at very low currents and at temperatures up to 110°C.