Search

Phonons in solid-state quantum emitters play a crucial role in their performance as photon sources in quantum technology. For resonant driving, phonons dampen the Rabi oscillations resulting in reduced preparation fidelities. The phonon spectral density, which quantifies the strength of the carrier-phonon interaction, is non-monotonous as a function of energy. As one of the most prominent consequences, this leads to the reappearance of Rabi rotations for increasing pulse power, which was theoretically predicted in Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 227403 (2007). In this paper we present the experimental demonstration of the reappearance of Rabi rotations.

The generation of single photons using solid-state quantum emitters is pivotal for advancing photonic quantum technologies, particularly in quantum communication. As the field continuously advances towards practical use cases and beyond shielded laboratory environments, specific demands are placed on the robustness of quantum light sources during operation. In this context, the robustness of the quantum light generation process against intrinsic and extrinsic effects is a major challenge. Here, we present a robust scheme for the coherent generation of indistinguishable single-photon states with very low photon number coherence (PNC) using a three-level system in a semiconductor quantum dot. Our novel approach combines the advantages of adiabatic rapid passage (ARP) and stimulated two-photon excitation (sTPE). We demonstrate robust quantum light generation while maintaining the prime quantum-optical quality of the emitted light state. Moreover, we highlight the immediate advantages for the implementation of various quantum cryptographic protocols., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures

Motivated by the long-term goal of finding holographic descriptions for ${\mathcal N}=1$ and ${\mathcal N}=2$ super QCD, we revisit the subject of ''noncritical'' superstring theory. Focusing on string models with 6d super Poincar\'e invariance, we provide a careful worldsheet derivation of the leading-order effective theories for the lowest modes. We identify them as $\textit{seven}$-dimensional, $\textit{maximally supersymmetric}$ gauged supergravities: the $SO(4)$ theory for noncritical IIA and the $ISO(4)$ theory for noncritical IIB. The same theories also arise as consistent truncations on $S^3$ of the 10d IIB and IIA supergravities, respectively, where the chirality flip is as expected from T-duality. These effective supergravities should be interpreted in the following sense. The noncritical string can be viewed as a special case of a discrete series of backgrounds labelled by an integer $k$ (which counts the number of NS5 branes in a certain duality frame); the ''noncritical'' value is $k=2$, while for $k \to \infty$ one recovers a weakly-curved 10d target space. The effective supergravities described here give an accurate description of the interactions among the lowest modes for $k \to \infty$, with higher derivative corrections suppressed by powers of $1/k$. We discuss BPS solutions of the 7d gauged supergravities and their uplift to 10d solutions. In particular, we find a novel class of solutions with RR flux, parametrized by a function of three variables that solves an elegant PDE. While we cannot solve the PDE in closed form except in trivial cases, we confirm that our solutions correspond to a 10d IIA Hanany-Witten setup with continuous distributions of both ''color'' D4 branes and ''flavor'' D6 branes., Comment: 98 pages, 2 figures

The generation of entangled photons from radiative cascades has enabled milestone experiments in quantum information science with several applications in photonic quantum technologies. Significant efforts are being devoted to pushing the performances of near-deterministic entangled-photon sources based on single quantum emitters often embedded in photonic cavities, so to boost the flux of photon pairs. The general postulate is that the emitter generates photons in a nearly maximally entangled state of polarization, ready for application purposes. Here, we demonstrate that this assumption is unjustified. We show that in radiative cascades there exists an interplay between photon polarization and emission wavevector, strongly affecting quantum correlations when emitters are embedded in micro-cavities. We discuss how the polarization entanglement of photon pairs from a biexciton-exciton cascade in quantum dots strongly depends on their propagation wavevector, and it can even vanish for large emission angles. Our experimental results, backed by theoretical modelling, yield a brand-new understanding of cascaded emission for various quantum emitters. In addition, our model provides quantitative guidelines for designing optical microcavities that retain both a high degree of entanglement and collection efficiency, moving the community one step further towards an ideal source of entangled photons for quantum technologies.

Frequency-based synthetic dimensions are a promising avenue to extend the dimensionality of photonic systems. In this work, we show how a tilted synthetic lattice is naturally realised by periodically modulating a single-mode resonator under a coherent monochromatic drive. We theoretically study the Bloch wave dynamics in the tilted synthetic lattice, which gives rise to peculiar features in the spectral distribution of the cavity field. Our predictions are experimentally confirmed using a planar tunable superconducting microwave resonator., Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures

In this paper, we explore scaling symmetries within the framework of symplectic geometry. We focus on the action $\Phi$ of the multiplicative group $G = \mathbb{R}^+$ on exact symplectic manifolds $(M, \omega,\theta)$, with $\omega = -d\theta$, where $ \theta $ is a given primitive one-form. Extending established results in symplectic geometry and Hamiltonian dynamics, we introduce conformally symplectic maps, conformally Hamiltonian systems, conformally symplectic group actions, and the notion of conformal invariance. This framework allows us to generalize the momentum map to the conformal momentum map, which is crucial for understanding scaling symmetries. Additionally, we provide a generalized Hamiltonian Noether's theorem for these symmetries. We introduce the (conformal) augmented Hamiltonian $H_{\xi}$ and prove that the relative equilibria of scaling symmetries are solutions to equations involving $ H _{ \xi } $ and the primitive one-form $\theta$. We derive their main properties, emphasizing the differences from relative equilibria in traditional symplectic actions. For cotangent bundles, we define a scaled cotangent lifted action and derive explicit formulas for the conformal momentum map. We also provide a general definition of central configurations for Hamiltonian systems on cotangent bundles that admit scaling symmetries. Applying these results to simple mechanical systems, we introduce the augmented potential $U_{\xi}$ and show that the relative equilibria of scaling symmetries are solutions to an equation involving $ U _{ \xi } $ and the Lagrangian one-form $\theta_L$. Finally, we apply our general theory to the Newtonian $n$-body problem, recovering the classical equations for central configurations., Comment: 31 pages, no figures

Motivated by a dataset of burglaries in Chicago, USA, we introduce a novel framework to analyze time series of count data combining common multivariate time series models with latent position network models. This novel methodology allows us to gain a new latent variable perspective on the crime dataset that we consider, allowing us to disentangle and explain the complex patterns exhibited by the data, while providing a natural time series framework that can be used to make future predictions. Our model is underpinned by two well known statistical approaches: a log-linear vector autoregressive model, which is prominent in the literature on multivariate count time series, and a latent projection model, which is a popular latent variable model for networks. The role of the projection model is to characterize the interaction parameters of the vector autoregressive model, thus uncovering the underlying network that is associated with the pairwise relationships between the time series. Estimation and inferential procedures are performed using an optimization algorithm and a Hamiltonian Monte Carlo procedure for efficient Bayesian inference. We also include a simulation study to illustrate the merits of our methodology in recovering consistent parameter estimates, and in making accurate future predictions for the time series. As we demonstrate in our application to the crime dataset, this new methodology can provide very meaningful model-based interpretations of the data, and it can be generalized to other time series contexts and applications., Comment: 36 pages, 21 figures, 6 tables

As a circuit QED architecture, we investigate the photon emission of a Cooper pair splitter composed of two double quantum dots, each coupled to a microwave transmission line. We demonstrate the capability to generate frequency-entangled photon pairs in the left and right transmission lines, specifically a superposition of two photon wavepackets at different frequencies. The frequency entanglement of the two photons arises from the particle-hole coherent superposition (i.e. Andreev bound states) involving the delocalized entangled spin singlet. We also estimate a lower bound for the efficiency of entangled photon-pair generation, accounting for the presence of non-radiative processes such as phonon emissions. Our proposal is realistic and achievable with state-of-the-art techniques in quantum microwave engineering with quantum dots., Comment: 29 pages, 12 figures

The sequential resonant excitation of a 2-level quantum system results in the emission of a state of light showing time-entanglement encoded in the photon-number-basis - notions that can be extended to 3-level quantum systems as discussed in a recent proposal. Here, we report the experimental implementation of a sequential two-photon resonant excitation process of a solid-state 3-level system, constituted by the biexciton-, exciton-, and ground-state of a semiconductor quantum dot. The resulting light state exhibits entanglement in time and energy, encoded in the photon-number basis, which could be used in quantum information applications, e.g., dense information encoding or quantum communication protocols. Performing energy- and time-resolved correlation experiments in combination with extensive theoretical modelling, we are able to partially retrieve the entanglement structure of the generated state., Comment: 14 pages (including 5 figures, 56 citations)

In this paper, we construct the associated vertex operator algebras for all $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories of rank one. We give a uniform presentation through free-field realizations, which turns out to be a particularly suitable framework for this task. The elementary building blocks of the construction are dictated by the low energy degrees of freedom on the Higgs branch, which are well understood for rank-one theories. We further analyze the interplay between Higgs and Coulomb data on the moduli space of vacua, which tightly constrain the overall structure of the free field realizations. Our results suggest a plausible bottom-up classification scheme for low-rank SCFTs incorporating vertex algebra techniques., Comment: 45 pages, 2 figures, 11 tables

Using the large-charge expansion, we prove a necessary condition for a CFT to exhibit conformal symmetry breaking, under the assumption that a continuous global symmetry is ${\it also}$ broken on the moduli space: there must be a tower of charged local operators whose scaling dimensions are asymptotically linear in the charge. In supersymmetric theories with a continuous R-symmetry and a holomorphic moduli space, the existence of such a tower of operators follows trivially from a BPS condition: their scaling dimensions are then exactly linear in the R-charge. We illustrate the more general statement in several examples of three-dimensional ${\cal N}=1$ CFTs, where the leading linear behavior receives nontrivial corrections. By considering a suitable scaling limit, we also relate the spectrum of states with large charge on the cylinder (isomorphic to local operators) to the spectrum of massive particles on the moduli space.

In topology, one averages over local geometrical details to reveal robust global features. This approach proves crucial for understanding quantized bulk transport and exotic boundary effects of linear wave propagation in (meta-)materials. Moving beyond linear Hamiltonian systems, the study of topology in physics strives to characterize open (non-Hermitian) and interacting systems. Here, we establish a framework for the topological classification of driven-dissipative nonlinear systems. Specifically, we define a graph index for the Floquet semiclassical equations of motion describing such systems. The graph index builds upon topological vector analysis theory and combines knowledge of the particle-hole nature of fluctuations around each out-of-equilibrium stationary state. To test this approach, we divulge the topological invariants arising in a micro-electromechanical nonlinear resonator subject to forcing and a time-modulated potential. Our framework classifies the complete phase diagram of the system and reveals the topological origin of driven-dissipative phase transitions, as well as that of under- to over-damped responses. Furthermore, we predict topological phase transitions between symmetry-broken phases that pertain to population inversion transitions. This rich manifesting phenomenology reveals the pervasive link between topology and nonlinear dynamics, with broad implications for all fields of science., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures (G.V. and J.d.P. contributed equally to this work)

We investigate the space of consistent tree-level extensions of the maximal supergravities in ten dimensions. We parametrize theory space by the first few EFT coefficients and by the on-shell coupling of the lightest massive state, and impose on these data the constraints that follow from $2 \to 2$ supergraviton scattering. While Type II string theory lives strictly inside the allowed region, we uncover a novel extremal solution of the bootstrap problem, which appears to contain a single linear Regge trajectory, with the same slope as string theory. We repeat a similar analysis for supergluon scattering, where we find instead a continuous family of extremal solutionswith a single Regge trajectory of varying slope., Comment: 44+6 pages, 23 figures

Conformal field theories that exhibit spontaneous breaking of conformal symmetry (a moduli space of vacua) must satisfy a set of bootstrap constraints, involving the usual data (scaling dimensions and OPE coefficients) as well as new data such as the spectrum of asymptotic states in the broken vacuum and form factors. The simplest bootstrap equation arises by expanding a two-point function of local operators in two channels, at short distance using the OPE and at large distance using the EFT in the broken vacuum. We illustrate this equation in what is arguably the simplest perturbative model that exhibits conformal symmetry breaking, namely the real $ABC$ model in $d = 4 -\epsilon$ dimensions. We investigate the convergence properties of the bootstrap equation and check explicitly many of the non-trivial relations that it imposes on theory data., Comment: 27 pages + appendices, v2 minor edits and references updated

Representing the nodes of continuous-time temporal graphs in a low-dimensional latent space has wide-ranging applications, from prediction to visualization. Yet, analyzing continuous-time relational data with timestamped interactions introduces unique challenges due to its sparsity. Merely embedding nodes as trajectories in the latent space overlooks this sparsity, emphasizing the need to quantify uncertainty around the latent positions. In this paper, we propose TGNE (\textbf{T}emporal \textbf{G}aussian \textbf{N}etwork \textbf{E}mbedding), an innovative method that bridges two distinct strands of literature: the statistical analysis of networks via Latent Space Models (LSM)\cite{Hoff2002} and temporal graph machine learning. TGNE embeds nodes as piece-wise linear trajectories of Gaussian distributions in the latent space, capturing both structural information and uncertainty around the trajectories. We evaluate TGNE's effectiveness in reconstructing the original graph and modelling uncertainty. The results demonstrate that TGNE generates competitive time-varying embedding locations compared to common baselines for reconstructing unobserved edge interactions based on observed edges. Furthermore, the uncertainty estimates align with the time-varying degree distribution in the network, providing valuable insights into the temporal dynamics of the graph. To facilitate reproducibility, we provide an open-source implementation of TGNE at \url{https://github.com/aida-ugent/tgne}.

We study the classical dynamics of a system comprising a pair of Kerr-Duffing nonlinear oscillators, which are coupled through a nonlinear interaction and subjected to a parametric drive. Using the rotating wave approximation (RWA), we analyze the steady-state solutions for the amplitudes of the two oscillators. For the case of almost identical oscillators, we investigate separately the cases in which only one oscillator is parametrically driven and in which both oscillators are simultaneously driven. In the latter regime, we demonstrate that even when the parametric drives acting on the two oscillators are identical, the system can transition from a stable Nesymmetric solution to a broken-symmetry solution as the detuning is varied.

Quantum networks require quantum nodes with coherent optical interfaces and multiple stationary qubits. In terms of optical properties, semiconductor quantum dots are highly compelling, but their adoption as quantum nodes has been impaired by the lack of auxiliary qubits. Here, we demonstrate a functional quantum register in a semiconductor quantum dot leveraging the dense, always-present nuclear spin ensemble. We prepare 13,000 host nuclear spins into a single many-body dark state to operate as the register logic state $|0\rangle$. The logic state $|1\rangle$ is defined as a single nuclear magnon excitation, enabling controlled quantum-state transfer between the electron spin qubit and the nuclear magnonic register. Using 130-ns SWAP gates, we implement a full write-store-retrieve-readout protocol with 68.6(4)% raw overall fidelity and a storage time of 130(16) $\mu$s in the absence of dynamical decoupling. Our work establishes how many-body physics can add step-change functionality to quantum devices, in this case transforming quantum dots into multi-qubit quantum nodes with deterministic registers.

A central spin qubit interacting coherently with an ensemble of proximal spins can be used to engineer entangled collective states or a multi-qubit register. Making full use of this many-body platform requires tuning the interaction between the central spin and its spin register. GaAs quantum dots offer a model realization of the central spin system where an electron qubit interacts with multiple ensembles of $\sim 10^{4}$ nuclear spins. In this work, we demonstrate tuning of the interaction between the electron qubit and the nuclear many-body system in a GaAs quantum dot. The homogeneity of the GaAs system allows us to perform high-precision and isotopically selective nuclear sideband spectroscopy, which reveals the single-nucleus electronic Knight field. Together with time-resolved spectroscopy of the nuclear field, this fully characterizes the electron-nuclear interaction for a priori control. An algorithmic feedback sequence selects the nuclear polarization precisely, which adjusts the electron-nuclear exchange interaction in situ via the electronic g-factor anisotropy. This allows us to tune directly the activation rate of a collective nuclear excitation (magnon) and the coherence time of the electron qubit. Our method is applicable to similar central-spin systems and enables the programmable tuning of coherent interactions in the many-body regime., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, and Supplementary Materials

Because dark excitons in quantum dots are not directly optically accessible, so far they have not played a significant role in using quantum dots for photon generation. They possess significantly longer lifetimes than their brighter counterparts and hence offer enormous potential for photon storage or manipulation. In this work, we demonstrate an all-optical storage and retrieval of the spin-forbidden dark exciton in a quantum dot from the ground state employing chirped pulses and an in-plane magnetic field. Our experimental findings are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions of the dynamics calculated using state-of-the-art product tensor methods. Our scheme enables an all-optical control of dark states without relying on any preceding decays. This opens up a new dimension for optimal quantum control and time-bin entangled photon pair generation from quantum dots.

We continue the investigation of large $N$ QCD from a modern bootstrap perspective, focusing on the mesons. We make the natural spectral assumption that the $2 \to 2$ pion amplitude must contain, above the spin-one rho meson, a massive resonance of spin two. By maximizing its coupling we find a very interesting extremal solution of the dual bootstrap problem, which appears to contain at least a full Regge trajectory. Its low-lying states are in uncanny quantitative agreement with the meson masses in the real world., Comment: 24+11 pages; 12 figures

Key requirements for quantum plasmonic nanocircuits are reliable single-photon sources, high coupling efficiency to the plasmonic structures and low propagation losses. Self-assembled epitaxially grown GaAs quantum dots are close to ideal stable, bright and narrowband single-photon emitters. Likewise, wet-chemically grown monocrystalline silver nanowires are among the best plasmonic waveguides. However, large propagation losses of surface plasmons on the high-index GaAs substrate prevent their direct combination. Here, we show by experiment and simulation that the best overall performance of the quantum plasmonic nanocircuit based on these building blocks is achieved in the intermediate field regime with an additional spacer layer between the quantum dot and the plasmonic waveguide. High-resolution cathodoluminescence measurements allow a precise determination of the coupling distance and support a simple analytical model to explain the overall performance. The coupling efficiency is increased up to four times by standing wave interference near the end of the waveguide., Comment: Accepted at ACS Nano Letters; contains main text and supporting information

The integration of on-demand quantum emitters into photonic integrated circuits (PICs) has drawn much of attention in recent years, as it promises a scalable implementation of quantum information schemes. A central property for several applications is the indistinguishability of the emitted photons. In this regard, GaAs quantum dots (QDs) obtained by droplet etching epitaxy show excellent performances with visibilities close to one for both individual and remote emitters. Therefore, the realization of these QDs into PICs is highly appealing. Here, we show the first implementation in this direction, realizing the key passive elements needed in PICs, i.e. single-mode waveguides (WGs) with integrated GaAs-QDs, which can be coherently controlled, as well as beamsplitters. We study both the statistical distribution of wavelength, linewidth and decay times of the excitonic line of multiple QDs, as well as the quantum optical properties of individual emitters under resonant excitation. Here, we achieve single-photon purities as high as $1-\text{g}^{(2)}(0)=0.929\pm0.009$ as well as two-photon interference visibilities of up to V$_{\text{TPI}}=0.939\pm0.004$ for two consecutively emitted photons.

Solid-state quantum emitters embedded in circular Bragg resonators are attractive due to their ability to emit quantum states of light with high brightness and low multi-photon probability. As for any emitter-microcavity system, fabrication imperfections limit the spatial and spectral overlap of the emitter with the cavity mode, thus limiting their coupling strength. Here, we show that an initial spectral mismatch can be corrected after device fabrication by repeated wet chemical etching steps. We demonstrate ~16 nm wavelength tuning for optical modes in AlGaAs resonators on oxide, leading to a 4-fold Purcell enhancement of the emission of single embedded GaAs quantum dots. Numerical calculations reproduce the observations and suggest that the achievable performance of the resonator is only marginally affected in the explored tuning range. We expect the method to be applicable also to circular Bragg resonators based on other material platforms, thus increasing the device yield of cavity-enhanced solid-state quantum emitters.

The generation, manipulation, storage, and detection of single photons play a central role in emerging photonic quantum information technology. Individual photons serve as flying qubits and transmit the quantum information at high speed and with low losses, for example between individual nodes of quantum networks. Due to the laws of quantum mechanics, quantum communication is fundamentally tap-proof, which explains the enormous interest in this modern information technology. On the other hand, stationary qubits or photonic states in quantum computers can potentially lead to enormous increases in performance through parallel data processing, to outperform classical computers in specific tasks when quantum advantage is achieved. Here, we discuss in depth the great potential of quantum dots (QDs) in photonic quantum information technology. In this context, QDs form a key resource for the implementation of quantum communication networks and photonic quantum computers because they can generate single photons on-demand. Moreover, QDs are compatible with the mature semiconductor technology, so that they can be integrated comparatively easily into nanophotonic structures, which form the basis for quantum light sources and integrated photonic quantum circuits. After a thematic introduction, we present modern numerical methods and theoretical approaches to device design and the physical description of quantum dot devices. We then present modern methods and technical solutions for the epitaxial growth and for the deterministic nanoprocessing of quantum devices based on QDs. Furthermore, we present the most promising concepts for quantum light sources and photonic quantum circuits that include single QDs as active elements and discuss applications of these novel devices in photonic quantum information technology. We close with an overview of open issues and an outlook on future developments., Comment: Copyright 2023 Optica Publishing Group. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modifications of the content of this paper are prohibited

By leveraging the physics of the Higgs branch, we argue that the conformal central charges $a$ and $c$ of an arbitrary 4d $N=2$ superconformal field theory (SCFT) are rational numbers. Our proof of the rationality of $c$ is conditioned on a well-supported conjecture about how the Higgs branch of an SCFT is encoded in its protected chiral algebra. To establish the rationality of $a$, we further rely on a widely-believed technical assumption on the high-temperature limit of the superconformal index., Comment: 7 pages

We present polarized |S|=0.99$\pm$0.01, and unpolarized |S|=0.03$\pm$0.01 emission from a single emitter embedded in a single, cylindrically symmetric device design. We show that the polarization stems from a position offset of the single emitter with respect to the cavity center, which breaks the cylindrical symmetry, and a position-dependent coupling to the frequency degenerate eigenmodes of the resonator structure. The experimental results are interpreted by using numerical simulations and by experimental mapping of the polarization-resolved far-field emission patterns. Our findings can be generalized to any nanophotonic structure where two orthogonal eigenmodes are not fully spatially overlapping., Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures

We continue the program [1] of carving out the space of large $N$ confining gauge theories by modern S-matrix bootstrap methods, with the ultimate goal of cornering large $N$ QCD. In this paper, we focus on the effective field theory of massless pions coupled to background electromagnetic fields. We derive the full set of positivity constraints encoded in the system of 2 $\to$ 2 scattering amplitudes of pions and photons. This system probes a larger set of intermediate meson states, and is thus sensitive to intricate large $N$ selection rules, especially when supplemented with expectations from Regge theory. It also has access to the coefficient of the chiral anomaly. We find novel numerical bounds on several ratios of Wilson coefficients, in units of the rho mass. By matching the chiral anomaly with the microscopic theory, we also derive bounds that contain an explicit $N$ dependence., Comment: 61+11 pages; 14 figures. We include an ancillary Mathematica file with a pedagogical construction of pion/photon partial waves

The measurement problem dates back to the dawn of quantum mechanics. Here, we measure a quantum dot electron spin qubit through off-resonant coupling with thousands of redundant nuclear spin ancillae. We show that the link from quantum to classical can be made without any "wavefunction collapse", in agreement with the Quantum Darwinism concept. Large ancilla redundancy allows for single-shot readout with high fidelity $\approx99.85\%$. Repeated measurements enable heralded initialization of the qubit and probing of the equilibrium electron spin dynamics. Quantum jumps are observed and attributed to burst-like fluctuations in a thermally populated phonon bath.

A scalable source of single photons is a key constituent of an efficient quantum photonic architecture. To realize this, it is beneficial to have an ensemble of quantum emitters that can be collectively excited with high efficiency. Semiconductor quantum dots hold great potential in this context, due to their excellent photophysical properties. Spectral variability of quantum dots is commonly regarded as a drawback introduced by the fabrication method. However, this is beneficial to realize a frequency-multiplexed single-photon platform. Chirped pulse excitation, relying on the so-called adiabatic rapid passage, is the most efficient scheme to excite a quantum dot ensemble due to its immunity to individual quantum dot parameters. Yet, the existing methods of generating chirped laser pulses to excite a quantum emitter are bulky, lossy, and mechanically unstable, which severely hampers the prospects of a quantum dot photon source. Here, we present a compact, robust, and high-efficiency alternative for chirped pulse excitation of solid-state quantum emitters. Our simple plug-and-play module consists of chirped fiber Bragg gratings (CFBGs), fabricated via femtosecond inscription, to provide high values of dispersion in the near-infrared spectral range, where the quantum dots emit. We characterize and benchmark the performance of our method via chirped excitation of a GaAs quantum dot, establishing high-fidelity single-photon generation. Our highly versatile chirping module coupled to a photon source is a significant milestone toward realizing practical quantum photonic devices.

Quantum communication networks rely on quantum cryptographic protocols including quantum key distribution (QKD) using single photons. A critical element regarding the security of QKD protocols is the photon number coherence (PNC), i.e. the phase relation between the zero and one-photon Fock state, which critically depends on the excitation scheme. Thus, to obtain flying qubits with the desired properties, optimal pumping schemes for quantum emitters need to be selected. Semiconductor quantum dots generate on-demand single photons with high purity and indistinguishability. Exploiting two-photon excitation of a quantum dot combined with a stimulation pulse, we demonstrate the generation of high-quality single photons with a controllable degree of PNC. Our approach provides a viable route toward secure communication in quantum networks., Comment: 17 pages

In recent years, various classes of systems were proposed to realize topological states of matter. One of them are multiterminal Josephson junctions where topological Andreev bound states are constructed in the synthetic space of superconducting phases. Crucially, the topology in these systems results in a quantized transconductance between two of its terminals comparable to the quantum Hall effect. In this work, we study a double quantum dot with four superconducting terminals and show that it has an experimentally accessible topological regime in which the non-trivial topology can be measured. We also include Coulomb repulsion between electrons which is usually present in experiments and show how the topological region can be maximized in parameter space., Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, submitted to SciPost Physics

In this chapter, we present a review of latent position models for networks. We review the recent literature in this area and illustrate the basic aspects and properties of this modeling framework. Through several illustrative examples we highlight how the latent position model is able to capture important features of observed networks. We emphasize how the canonical design of this model has made it popular thanks to its ability to provide interpretable visualizations of complex network interactions. We outline the main extensions that have been introduced to this model, illustrating its flexibility and applicability., Comment: 26 pages, 4 figures

Excitons in quantum dots are excellent sources of polarization-entangled photon pairs, but a quantitative understanding of their interaction with the nuclear spin bath is still missing. Here we investigate the role of hyperfine energy shifts using experimentally accessible parameters and derive an upper limit to the achievable entanglement fidelity. Our results are consistent with all available literature, indicate that spin-noise is often the dominant process limiting the entanglement in InGaAs quantum dots, and suggest routes to alleviate its effect.

Magnetic noise of atomic nuclear spins is a major problem for solid state spin qubits. Highly-polarized nuclei would not only overcome this obstacle, but also make nuclear spins a useful quantum information resource. However, achieving sufficiently high nuclear polarizations has remained an evasive goal. Here we implement a nuclear spin polarization protocol which combines strong optical pumping and fast electron tunneling. Polarizations well above 95% are generated in GaAs semiconductor quantum dots on a timescale of 1 minute. The technique is compatible with standard quantum dot device designs, where highly-polarized nuclear spins can simplify implementations of quantum bits and memories, as well as offer a testbed for studies of many-body quantum dynamics and magnetism.

Semiconductor quantum dots have emerged as an especially promising platform for the generation of polarization-entangled photon pairs. However, it was demonstrated recently that the two-photon excitation scheme employed in state-of-the-art experiments limits the achievable degree of entanglement by introducing which-path information. In this work, the combined impact of two-photon excitation and longitudinal acoustic phonons on photon pairs emitted by strongly-confining quantum dots is investigated. It is found that phonons further reduce the achievable degree of entanglement even in the limit of vanishing temperature due to phonon-induced pure dephasing and phonon-assisted one-photon processes, which increase the reexcitation probability. In addition, the degree of entanglement, as measured by the concurrence, decreases with rising temperature and/or pulse duration, even if the excitonic fine-structure splitting is absent and when higher electronic states are out of reach. Furthermore, in the case of finite fine-structure splittings, phonons enlarge the discrepancy in concurrence for different laser polarizations., Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures

Long-range quantum communication requires the development of in-out light-matter interfaces to achieve a quantum advantage in entanglement distribution. Ideally, these quantum interconnections should be as fast as possible to achieve high-rate entangled qubits distribution. Here, we demonstrate the coherent quanta exchange between single photons generated on-demand from a GaAs quantum dot and atomic ensemble in a $^{87}$Rb vapor quantum memory. Through an open quantum system analysis, we demonstrate the mapping between the quantized electric field of photons and the coherence of the atomic ensemble. Our results play a pivotal role in understanding quantum light-matter interactions at the short time scales required to build fast hybrid quantum networks., Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1808.05921; v2: figure typo corrected

A quantum-light source that delivers photons with a high brightness and a high degree of entanglement is fundamental for the development of efficient entanglement-based quantum-key distribution systems. Among all possible candidates, epitaxial quantum dots are currently emerging as one of the brightest sources of highly entangled photons. However, the optimization of both brightness and entanglement currently requires different technologies that are difficult to combine in a scalable manner. In this work, we overcome this challenge by developing a novel device consisting of a quantum dot embedded in a circular Bragg resonator, in turn, integrated onto a micromachined piezoelectric actuator. The resonator engineers the light-matter interaction to empower extraction efficiencies up to 0.69(4). Simultaneously, the actuator manipulates strain fields that tune the quantum dot for the generation of entangled photons with corrected fidelities to a maximally entangled state up to 0.96(1). This hybrid technology has the potential to overcome the limitations of the key rates that plague QD-based entangled sources for entanglement-based quantum key distribution and entanglement-based quantum networks.