Large conditional phase shifts from coupled atom-cavity systems are a key requirement for building a spin photon interface. This in turn would allow the realisation of hybrid quantum information schemes using spin and photonic qubits. Here we perform high resolution reflection spectroscopy of a quantum dot resonantly coupled to a pillar microcavity. We show both the change in reflectivity as the quantum dot is tuned through the cavity resonance, and measure the conditional phase shift induced by the quantum dot using an ultra stable interferometer. These techniques could be extended to the study of charged quantum dots, where it would be possible to realise a spin photon interface.
We exploit the nonlinearity arising from the spin-photon interaction in an InAs quantum dot to demonstrate phase shifts of scattered light pulses at the single-photon level. Photon phase shifts of close to 90 degrees are achieved using a charged quantum dot in a micropillar cavity. We also demonstrate a photon phase switch by using a spin-pumping mechanism through Raman transitions in an in-plane magnetic field. The experimental findings are supported by a theoretical model which explores the dynamics of the system. Our results demonstrate the potential of quantum dot-induced nonlinearities for quantum information processing.
We present two novel schemes to generate photon polarization entanglement via single electron spins confined in charged quantum dots inside microcavities. One scheme is via entangled remote electron spins followed by negatively-charged exciton emissions, and another scheme is via a single electron spin followed by the spin state measurement. Both schemes are based on giant circular birefringence and giant Faraday rotation induced by a single electron spin in a microcavity. Our schemes are deterministic and can generate an arbitrary amount of multi-photon entanglement. Following similar procedures, a scheme for a photon-spin quantum interface is proposed.
Semiconductor quantum dots (known as artificial atoms) hold great promise for solid-state quantum networks and quantum computers. To realize a quantum network, it is crucial to achieve light-matter entanglement and coherent quantum-state transfer between light and matter. Here we present a robust photon-spin entangling gate with high fidelity and high efficiency (up to 50 percent) using a charged quantum dot in a double-sided microcavity. This gate is based on giant circular birefringence induced by a single electron spin, and functions as an optical circular polariser which allows only one circularly-polarized component of light to be transmitted depending on the electron spin states. We show this gate can be used for single-shot quantum non-demolition measurement of a single electron spin, and can work as an entanglement filter to make a photon-spin entangler, spin entangler and photon entangler as well as a photon-spin quantum interface. This work allows us to make all building blocks for solid-state quantum networks with single photons and quantum-dot spins.
Using far field optical lithography, a single quantum dot is positioned within a pillar microcavity with a 50 nm accuracy. The lithography is performed in-situ at 10 K while measuring the quantum dot emission. Deterministic spectral and spatial matching of the cavity-dot system is achieved in a single step process and evidenced by the observation of strong Purcell effect. Deterministic coupling of two quantum dots to the same optical mode is achieved, a milestone for quantum computing.
We propose an entanglement beam splitter (EBS) using a quantum-dot spin in a double-sided optical microcavity. In contrast to the conventional optical beam splitter, the EBS can directly split a photon-spin product state into two constituent entangled states via transmission and reflection with high fidelity and high efficiency (up to 100 percent). This device is based on giant optical circular birefringence induced by a single spin as a result of cavity quantum electrodynamics and the spin selection rule of trion transition (Pauli blocking). The EBS is robust and it is immune to the fine structure splitting in a realistic quantum dot. This quantum device can be used for deterministically creating photon-spin, photon-photon and spin-spin entanglement as well as a single-shot quantum non-demolition measurement of a single spin. Therefore, the EBS can find wide applications in quantum information science and technology.