Quantum optics with semiconductor quantum dots (Prof. P. Senellart-Mardon)

Deterministic sources and gates can in principle be obtained making use of the single-photon sensitivity of an atomic transition. In this context, artificial atoms in the form of semiconductor quantum dots have emerged as a promising system to boost optical quantum technologies, offering the potential of integration and scalability.

In this talk, I will review the recent contributions of our group to this research field. I will discuss how a single quantum dot can be positioned in an optical cavity in a fully controlled way, so as to control its spontaneous emission on demand. Close to ideal atom-photon interfaces are obtained, where a single quantum dot interacts with a single mode of the optical field and is largely isolated from all sources of decoherence. These technological developments have allowed the fabrication of bright solid-state sources of single-photon with single photon purity and indistinguishability exceeding 99%. The brightness of the sources exceeds by a factor 20 the one of currently used sources. We have also made progresses toward the development of deterministic two-photon gates, with devices performing as nonlinear switches at the single-photon level, converting a coherent pulse into a highly non-classical light wave-packet.