微腔增强发射的半导体量子点单光子源

Microcavity enhanced single-photon emission from single semiconductor quantum dots

单光子源是实现量子密匙分配、线性光学量子计算的基本单元。作者回顾了单光子源在量子信息科学发展中的作用,讨论了光子的统计特性,分析了具有类似原子二能级结构的半导体量子点作为单光子发射源的特点,介绍了微腔与二能级系统的耦合以及微腔量子电动力学基本原理。在弱耦合区,Purcell效应导致微腔中量子点激子复合寿命降低,因此可用微腔来改善量子点单光子发射效率。文章总结了近年来在半导体微腔增强量子点单光子发射领域的进展,探讨了分布式布拉格反射微腔、柱状微腔和光子晶体微腔等结构对改善半导体量子点单光子发射和收集效率、光子极化以及光子全同性等方面的作用,并对未来半导体量子点单光子源的发展进行了展望。

Single-photon sources are a basic resource for the implementation of quantum key distribution and linear optical-quantum computation. In this article, we review the photon statistical properties of light, in particular, single photons and their applications in quantum information science, semiconductor quantum dot based single-photon sources, and the principles of cavity quantum electrodynamics including the coupling between a two-level emitter and an optical cavity in the strong or weak coupling regime. In the weak coupling regime, the spontaneous emission rate can be enhanced by the cavity due to the Purcell effect. We then review the recent development of single-photon sources using single self-assembled quantum dots coupled with optical cavities. Semiconductor cavities employing distributed Bragg reflectors, micropillars and photonic crystals are used to enhance the repetition rate, collection efficiency, polarization and indistinguishability of single photons. Finally, future prospects of semiconductor quantum dot based single-photon sources are discussed.