Home > Press > Superfast switching of quantum light sources
Cartoon of the superfast emission of a light source. The light source is embedded in an optical resonator where it spontaneously emits a photon. During the emission of the photon the favored color of the resonator is quickly switched – symbolized by a hammer to match the color of the light source. During this short interval the light source is triggered to emit an ultrashort burst of photons within a desired moment in time. |
Abstract:
Usually, an elementary light source - such as an excited atom or molecule - emits light of a particular color at an unpredictable instance in time. Recently, however, scientists from the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of the UT, FOM and the Institute for Nanoscience and Cryogenics (CEA/INAC) in France have shown that a light source can be coaxed to emit light at a desired moment in time, within an ultrashort burst. The superfast switching of a light source has applications in fast stroboscopes without laser speckle, in the precise control of quantum systems and for ultrasecure communication using quantum cryptography. The theoretical results were published in Optics Express.
pontaneous emission of light from excited sources, such as atoms, molecules or quantum dots, is a fundamental process with many applications in modern technology, such as LEDs and lasers. As the term 'spontaneous emission' indicates, the emission is random in nature and it is therefore impossible to predict the exact emission time of a photon. However, for several applications it is desirable to receive single photons exactly when they are needed with as little uncertainty as possible. This property is crucial for ultra-secure communication using quantum cryptography and in quantum computers. Therefore, the important goal is to fabricate a quantum light source such that it emits a single photon exactly at a desired moment in time.
Switching light emission
The average emission time of quantum light sources can be reduced by locating them in various nanostructures, like optical resonators or waveguides. But the distribution of emission times is always exponential in time in a usual stationary environment. In addition, the smallest uncertainty in the emission time is limited by both the maximum intensity in the resonator and the variations in the preparation time of the emitter. The Dutch-French team proposes to overcome these limitations by quickly switching the resonator length, in which the light source is located. The time duration of the switch should be much shorter than the average emission time. The result is that the favored color of the resonator only matches the emission color of the light source within a short time interval. Only within this short time frame are the photons emitted by the light source into the resonator.
Ultrafast light source
The researchers propose to use quantum dot light sources, which can easily be integrated in semiconductor optical resonators with lengths on the order of microns. The switching of the resonator will be achieved by shining an ultrashort laser pulse at the micropillar resonator during the emission time of the quantum dots. This quickly changes the refractive in the resonator and thereby the effective resonator length. The switching time can be directly controlled by the arrival time of the short laser pulse and by the lifetime of the excited electrons. These controlled light switches have great prospects for creating incoherent ultrafast light sources for fast stroboscopes without laser speckle, in quantum cryptography, in quantum information and for studying ultrafast cavity Quantum electrodynamics.
The team
The research has been performed by FOM postdoc Dr. Henri Thyrrestrup, Dr. Alex Hartsuiker and FOM workgroup leader Prof.dr. Willem L. Vos from the Complex Photonic Systems (COPS) Chair at the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of the University of Twente in Enschede, The Netherlands, in close collaboration with Prof.dr. Jean-Michel Gérard from the Institute for Nanoscience and Cryogeny (CEA/INAC) in Grenoble, France.
####
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Wiebe van der Veen
+31612185692
Copyright © AlphaGalileo
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Related Links |
Related News Press |
News and information
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Good as gold - improving infectious disease testing with gold nanoparticles April 5th, 2024
Display technology/LEDs/SS Lighting/OLEDs
Utilizing palladium for addressing contact issues of buried oxide thin film transistors April 5th, 2024
Light guide plate based on perovskite nanocomposites November 3rd, 2023
Simple ballpoint pen can write custom LEDs August 11th, 2023
Quantum Computing
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
With VECSELs towards the quantum internet Fraunhofer: IAF achieves record output power with VECSEL for quantum frequency converters April 5th, 2024
Chemical reactions can scramble quantum information as well as black holes April 5th, 2024
Discoveries
Chemical reactions can scramble quantum information as well as black holes April 5th, 2024
New micromaterial releases nanoparticles that selectively destroy cancer cells April 5th, 2024
Utilizing palladium for addressing contact issues of buried oxide thin film transistors April 5th, 2024
Announcements
NRL charters Navy’s quantum inertial navigation path to reduce drift April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters
Simulating magnetization in a Heisenberg quantum spin chain April 5th, 2024
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Tools
Ferroelectrically modulate the Fermi level of graphene oxide to enhance SERS response November 3rd, 2023
The USTC realizes In situ electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy using single nanodiamond sensors November 3rd, 2023
Quantum Dots/Rods
A new kind of magnetism November 17th, 2023
IOP Publishing celebrates World Quantum Day with the announcement of a special quantum collection and the winners of two prestigious quantum awards April 14th, 2023
Qubits on strong stimulants: Researchers find ways to improve the storage time of quantum information in a spin rich material January 27th, 2023
NIST’s grid of quantum islands could reveal secrets for powerful technologies November 18th, 2022
Photonics/Optics/Lasers
With VECSELs towards the quantum internet Fraunhofer: IAF achieves record output power with VECSEL for quantum frequency converters April 5th, 2024
Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024
Optically trapped quantum droplets of light can bind together to form macroscopic complexes March 8th, 2024
HKUST researchers develop new integration technique for efficient coupling of III-V and silicon February 16th, 2024
Research partnerships
Discovery points path to flash-like memory for storing qubits: Rice find could hasten development of nonvolatile quantum memory April 5th, 2024
Researchers’ approach may protect quantum computers from attacks March 8th, 2024
'Sudden death' of quantum fluctuations defies current theories of superconductivity: Study challenges the conventional wisdom of superconducting quantum transitions January 12th, 2024
The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
Premium Products | ||
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||