Next generation quantum light sources based on 2D materials

拟议的计划将把量子材料和量子信息这两个具有重要战略意义的研究领域结合起来。通过构建新型异质结构器件，如透明电容、p-i-n结和微柱腔，由二维(2D)量子材料(氮化硼、石墨烯、二硒化钨等)组成，它们的独特性质可以被利用来实现芯片上可调谐单光子量子信息源。这些源不仅构成了许多涉及光子的量子通信和信息处理体系结构的组成部分(例如，量子密钥分发、量子中继器和线性光学量子计算)，而且它们还可以用来分辨超出衍射限制的特征，在量子成像和光刻中得到应用。因此，它们的发展，特别是在可扩展平台上的发展，对于推动一系列量子技术走向广泛的商业用途是必要的。*特别是，该计划将利用迄今为止在氮化硼和二硒化钨中发现的一类光学活性缺陷，这些缺陷在激发时会发出单光子。光子可以以量子态的叠加形式存在，可以用来编码量子信息。由于它们以光速传播，与环境的相互作用很弱，它们可以进一步远距离携带这些信息。因此，产生高纯度(抑制多光子产生)的“按需”单光子的来源是量子信息技术的宝贵商品，特别是如果发射可以电子控制的话，以及高效率地产生和收集的话。与其他正在开发的单光子源相比，2D材料具有许多优势。这种埋入缺陷具有天然的高纯度和发射效率。主机的分层性质进一步允许与器件和异质结构的方便集成，以电操作缺陷以及捕获发射的光子。这种材料还可以大面积生长为薄膜，从而有利于未来的可扩展性。*通过利用它们的独特性质，将展示以下成果：*利用2D材料中的缺陷开发可调谐的单光子源；*使用这些源进行实验，以展示高单光子纯度以及产生和收集效率；*在硅片上进行大规模器件集成。

The proposed program shall interface two strategically important research areas quantum materials and quantum information. By building novel heterostructure devices, such as transparent capacitors, p-i-n junctions, and micropillar cavities, consisting of two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials (boron nitride, graphene, tungsten diselenide, etc.), their unique properties can be exploited to realize on-chip, tunable single photon sources for quantum information. Such sources not only form integral components of many quantum communication and information processing architectures involving photons (e.g., quantum key distribution, quantum repeaters, and linear optics quantum computing), they can also be used to resolve features beyond the diffraction limit, finding applications in quantum imaging and lithography. Their development, especially in scalable platforms, is thus necessary to push forward a range of quantum technologies towards widespread commercial usage. ******In particular, the program will exploit a class of optically active defects, so far found in boron nitride and tungsten diselenide, that emit single photons when excited. Photons, which can exist in a superposition of quantum states, can be used to encode quantum information. Since they travel at the speed of light and interact weakly with the environment, they can further carry this information over long distances. As a result, sources that produce “on-demand,” single photons of high purity (multiphoton generation suppressed) are a prized commodity for quantum information technology, especially if the emission can be controlled electrically, as well as generated and collected with high efficiency. 2D materials offer a number of advantages over other single photon sources under development. The embedded defects have been shown to have naturally high purity and emission efficiency. The layered nature of the host further allows convenient integration with devices and heterostructures both to electrically manipulate the defects as well as to capture emitted photons. The materials can also be grown as thin films over large areas, allowing the benefit of future scalability. ******By exploiting their unique properties, the following achievements will be demonstrated:*** the development of tunable single photon sources from defects in 2D materials;*** experiments using these sources to demonstrate high single photon purity, as well as generation and collection efficiencies;*** large-scale device integration on silicon wafers.