Simulation Software for Modelling Quantum Light Sources

量子光子学是一个新兴的技术领域，有望彻底改变科学和日常生活。在其他好处中，预计它将带来超安全的通信，强大的超高速计算机和大量增加的数据存储。这些进步都是基于发展单光子源的前提：一种以一次发射一个光子为特征的特殊光源。半导体量子点（QDs）由纳米大小的半导体包裹体组成，是一种类似原子的系统，作为单光子源的有吸引力的候选者。然而，它们在非常低的温度下运行，需要液氦冷却，这是一个主要的缺点。这个重要的问题可以通过开发能够在更高温度下发射单光子的氮化物量子点来克服。该项目旨在测试Quantopticon强大的仿真软件在类似销售环境中的应用，使其工作更快，更有效，并为其提供用户友好的界面。我们将演示该软件在技术上重要的领域能够产生影响。我们的模拟工具将消除进行多次昂贵实验的需要，从而大大加速和优化氮化物量子点器件的设计和制造。

Quantum photonics is an emergent field of technology promising to revolutionise science and day-to-day life alike. Amongst other benefits, it is anticipated that it will usher in ultra-secure communication, powerful super-fast computers and vastly increased data storage. These advancements are all based on the premise of developing single-photon sources: special sources of light characterised by emitting one photon at a time. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), consisting of nanometre-sized inclusions of one semiconductor within another, are atom-like systems emerging as attractive candidates for single-photon sources. However, they operate at very low temperatures requiring liquid helium cooling, which is a major drawback. This significant problem can be overcome by developing nitride QDs capable of emitting single photons at much higher temperatures. This project aims to test the application of Quantopticon's powerful simulation software in a context similar to that in which it might be sold, make it work faster and more effectively and provide it with a user-friendly interface. We will demonstrate that the software can have impact in a technologically important area. Our simulation tools will remove the need to carry out multiple, costly experiments, thus greatly accelerating and optimising the design and manufacture of nitride QD devices.