Val Zwiller: Nanowire quantum dots for quantum optics

Monday, October 6, 2014 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Val Zwiller, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

Nanowires offer exciting opportunities in quantum optics. Using quantum dots in semiconducting nanowires, we demonstrate the generation of single photons as well as pairs of entangled photons. Making electrical contacts to semiconducting nanowires, we make a single quantum dot LED where electroluminescence from a single quantum dot can be studied. Similar devices operated as photodiodes enable the operation of single nanowire avalanche photodiodes. Superconducting nanowires also offer application in quantum optics: we demonstrate efficient single photon detection with superconducting nanowire single photon detectors, a device that we have brought to market by creating a company. I will also address quantum circuits where quantum light sources, circuits and detectors are all combined on a chip.