Acoustic Control of Light and Matter on a Chip (Prof. H. Krenner)

  • Date: Mar 23, 2018
  • Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Local Time Germany)
  • Speaker: Prof. Dr. Hubert J. Krenner
  • Experimental Physics 1, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany Nanosystems Initiative Munich (NIM), Munich, Germany
  • Room: New Lecture Hall, Room B 0.32
  • Host: MPQ, Theory Division
Phonons, the quanta of mechanical vibrations mediate the propagation of sound and heat in condensed matter.

In fact, phonons represent – in addition to photons or electrons – a fundamental excitation in solid state materials. However, over the past decades, innovation was mostly driven by controlling electrons and photons and microelectronics (electrons) and photonics (photons) revolutionized our everyday life. Today, physicists control different types of quantum states with unprecedented precision. However, no individual, isolated approach meets all the stringent criteria for applications in future quantum technologies. Hybrid quantum systems aim to combine complementary strengths of different single systems, while at the same time avoiding individual shortcomings. For the realization of such hybrid quantum architectures, phonons stand out: they interact strongly with literally any other quantum system and, most excitingly, can be routed in the form of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) over millimeter distances with ultra-low dissipation.

In my presentation, I will give an overview on our recent advances on the control of optically active quantum dots (QDs) by SAWs. I will demonstrate the dynamic acoustic field of a SAW modulates both the sharp optical transition of a quantum dot and that the underlying sound-matter coupling allows for pressure sensing on the nanoscale [1,2]. Light-matter interaction can be controlled by our nanoscale sound waves, when embedding the QD inside a photonic crystal nanocavity. Here, the Purcell-effect can be gated dynamically on sub-lifetime timescales by the combined acousto-optic tuning of the QD and the high quality optical mode [3]. This gives rise to a precisely triggered emission of single photons by the QD [4]. Finally, I will discuss perspectives on unified light-sound-matter coupling in integrated nanoscale circuits [5].

References:

[1] F. J. R. Schülein, E. Zallo, P. Atkinson, O. G. Schmidt, R. Trotta, A. Rastelli, A. Wixforth, and H. J. Krenner, Nature Nanotechnol. 10, 512 (2015).
[2] M. Weiß, A. L. Hörner, E. Zallo, P. Atkinson, A. Rastelli, O. G. Schmidt, A. Wixforth, H. J. Krenner, Phys. Rev. Applied 9, 014004 (2018).
[3] D. A. Fuhrmann, S. M. Thon, H. Kim, D. Bouwmeester, P. M. Petroff, A. Wixforth, H. J. Krenner, Nature Photon. 5, 605-609 (2011).
[4] M. Weiß, S. Kapfinger, T. Reichert, J. J. Finley, A. Wixforth, M. Kaniber, and H. J. Krenner, Appl. Phys. Lett. 109, 33105 (2016).
[5] K. C. Balram, M. I. Davanço, J. D. Song, and K. Srinivasan, Nature Photon. 10, 346 (2016).

Go to Editor View