(DURIP) MEASUREMENT OF INDISTINGUISHABILITY OF SINGLE PHOTONS EMITTED FROM ON-CHIP INTEGRABLE HIGHLY SPECTRALLY UNIFORM NOVEL SEMICONDUCTOR QUANTUM DOTS IN SPATIALLY-ORDERED ARRAYS
Abstract
This proposal seeks funds under the DURIP FY2021 (FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2020-0001) for the augmentation of equipment needed to fully implement the research under current AFOSR grant FA9550-17-1-0353 Addressable surface-curvature driven mesa top single quantum dot based single photon source array integrated on-chip with dielectric light manipulating elements (Program Manager Dr. Gernot Pomrenke). The requested instrument—a near infrared laser in the wavelength regime of 1000nm to 1600nm—is to enable examining indistinguishability of photons emitted from a single or two distinct but known single photon sources in a spatiallyordered 2-dimensional array of epitaxial single quantum dots (SQDs) emitting at ~1120nm with the unprecedented spectral uniformity of less than 2nm over ~1500micrometers2 and single photon emission purity greater than 99.5 percent. This ground-breaking new class of SQDs—realized, under AFOSR support, utilizing surface-curvature induced stress gradient directed spatially selective growth on top of purpose fully designed arrays of nanomesas-- inherently lends itself to realizing on-chip scalable nanophotonic quantum optical circuits requiring controlled interference and entanglement between photons from different known photon sources. A major step towards realizing such a platform—already implemented under AFOSR support-- is the overgrowth of a morphology planarizing overlayer for the subsequent fabrication of co-designed on-chip passive elements that enhance the emission rate, and direct and manipulate the emitted single photons on-chip to realize controlled interference. Such light manipulating passive elements can be implemented using either the well-developed 2D photonic crystal approach, or an alternative approach introduced by us that provides these multiple functions through the use of Mie-like resonances of co-designed interacting metastructures (light manipulating units) of sub-wavelength size dielectric building blocks (DBBs) spatially organized around each light emitting single quantum dot in the array. To enable full characterization of these ground-breaking mesa-top single quantum dots (MTSQDs) and the unique nanophotonic systems they will potentially enable, the requested equipment comprises (1) a tunable near infrared (NIR) laser in the 1000nm to 1600nm regime, (2) appropriate NIR imaging system, and (3) upgraded source cell and control system for the quantum dot growth system. The requested equipment will augment and complement existing facilities and add an invaluable resource for hands-on exploration of cutting-edge ideas by students and postdocs of varied backgrounds in an interdisciplinary team to produce professionals for the most welleducated and confident technical work force for the Nation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502110253
Entities
People
- A. Madhukar
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Southern California