On-Demand Generation of Indistinguishable Photons in the Telecom C-Band using Quantum Dot Devices

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Vajner, Daniel A, Holewa, Paweł, Zięba-Ostój, Emilia, Wasiluk, Maja, Martin von Helversen, Sakanas, Aurimas, Huck, Alexander, Yvind, Kresten, Gregersen, Niels, Musiał, Anna, Syperek, Marcin, Semenova, Elizaveta, Heindel, Tobias
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 16.01.2024
• Subjects: C band; Electrons; Excitons; Fiber optics; Optical communication; Photons; Physics - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics; Physics - Quantum Physics; Quantum dots; Quantum phenomena; Silicon wafers; Spectral emittance; Telecommunications
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2306.08668

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) enable the generation of single and entangled photons, useful for various applications in photonic quantum technologies. Specifically for quantum communication via fiber-optical networks, operation in the telecom C-band centered around 1550\(\,\)nm is ideal. The direct generation of QD-photons in this spectral range and with high quantum-optical quality, however, remained challenging. Here, we demonstrate the coherent on-demand generation of indistinguishable photons in the telecom C-band from single QD devices consisting of InAs/InP QD-mesa structures heterogeneously integrated with a metallic reflector on a silicon wafer. Using pulsed two-photon resonant excitation of the biexciton-exciton radiative cascade, we observe Rabi rotations up to pulse areas of \(4\pi\) and a high single-photon purity in terms of \(g^{(2)}(0)=0.005(1)\) and \(0.015(1)\) for exciton and biexciton photons, respectively. Applying two independent experimental methods, based on fitting Rabi rotations in the emission intensity and performing photon cross-correlation measurements, we consistently obtain preparation fidelities at the \(\pi\)-pulse exceeding 80\(\%\). Finally, performing Hong-Ou-Mandel-type two-photon interference experiments we obtain a photon-indistinguishability of the full photon wave packet of up to \(35(3)\%\), representing a significant advancement in the photon-indistinguishability of single photons emitted directly in the telecom C-band.