Semiconductor Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics

This monograph is the first to give a comprehensive account of the theory of semiconductor cavity quantum electrodynamics for such systems in the weak-coupling and strong-coupling regimes. It presents the important concepts, together with relevant, recent experimental results.

The topic of this dissertation is photonic crystal nanocavities for semiconductor cavity quantum electrodynamics. For the purposes of this study, these nanocavities may be one dimensional (1D) or two dimensional (2D) in design. The 2D devices are active and contain embedded InAs quantum dots (QDs), whereas the 1D devices are passive and contain no active emitters. The 2D photonic crystal nanocavities are fabricated in a slab of GaAs with a single layer of InAs QDs embedded in the slab. When a cavity mode substantially overlaps the QD ensemble, the dots affect the linewidths of the observed modes, leading to broadening of the linewidth at low excitation powers due to absorption and narrowing of the linewidths at high excitation powers due to gain when the QD ensemble absorption is saturated. We observe lasing from a few QDs in such a nanocavity. A technique is discussed with allows us to tune the resonance wavelength of a nanocavity by condensation of an inert gas onto the sample, which is held at cryogenic temperatures. The structural quality at the interfaces of epitaxially grown semiconductor heterostructures is investigated, and a growth instability is discovered which leads to roughness on the bottom of the GaAs slabs. Adjustment of MBE growth parameters leads to the elimination of this roughness, and the result is higher nanocavity quality factors. A number of methods for optimizing the fabrication of nanocavities is presented, which lead to higher quality factors. It is shown that some fundamental limiting factor, not yet fully understood, is preventing high quality factors at wavelengths shorter than 950 nm. Silicon 1D devices without active emitters are investigated by means of a tapered microfiber loop, and high quality factors are observed. This measurement technique is compared to a cross-polarized resonant scattering method. The quality factors observed in the silicon nanocavities are higher than those observed in GaAs, consistent with our observation that quality factors are in general higher at longer wavelengths.

A one-dimension (planar) microcavity structure shown in can increase the coupling efficiency Beta of spontaneous emission into a single cavity resonant mode, if the spontaneous emission spectral width Aw. is smaller than the microcavity resonance width Awc and if the refractive-index difference An is fairy large. The loss of spontaneous emission into spurious modes, 1-Beta, are clue to the two (degenerate) orthogonal polarization modes and the leaky guided modes propagating in a plane of the microcavity. A three-dimensional (waveguide) microcavity structure shown in features several advantages over the one-dimensional structure. The increase in Beta is realized without requiring delta(omega sub e) delta(omega sub c) and large delta n. The degeneracy of the two orthogonal polarization mode's can 'be lifted and the leaky guided modes, can be made cut-off by the waveguide structure. Therefore, the spurious spontaneous emission into these modes can be suppressed. The spontaneous emission lifetime T, can be also decreased in the three-dimensional microcavity. On the other hand, the one-dimensional microcavity cannot decrease Tav sub delta but can only increase Tau sub delta.

This book reviews recent advances in the field of semiconductor quantum dots via contributions from prominent researchers in the scientific community. Special focus is given to optical, quantum optical, and spin properties of single quantum dots.

This monograph is the first to give a comprehensive account of the theory of semiconductor cavity quantum electrodynamics for such systems in the weak-coupling and strong-coupling regimes. It presents the important concepts, together with relevant, recent experimental results.

Special focus is given to the optical and electronic properties of single quantum dots due to their potential applications in devices operating with single electrons and/or single photons. This includes quantum dots in electric and magnetic fields, cavity-quantum electrodynamics, nonclassical light generation, and coherent optical control of excitons.

What happens to light when it is trapped in a box? Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics addresses a fascinating question inphysics: what happens to light, and in particular to itsinteraction with matter, when it is trapped inside a box? With theaid of a model-building approach, readers discover the answer tothis question and come to appreciate its important applications incomputing, cryptography, quantum teleportation, andopto-electronics. Instead of taking a traditional approach thatrequires readers to first master a series of seemingly unconnectedmathematical techniques, this book engages the readers' interestand imagination by going straight to the point, introducing themathematics along the way as needed. Appendices are provided forthe additional mathematical theory. Researchers, scientists, and students of modern physics can referto Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics and examine the field thoroughly.Several key topics covered that readers cannot find in any otherquantum optics book include: * Introduction to the problem of the "vacuum catastrophe" and thecosmological constant * Detailed up-to-date account of cavity QED lasers andthresholdless lasing * Examination of cavities with movable walls * First-principles discussion about cavity QED in opencavities * Pedagogical account of microscopic quantization indielectrics Complementing the coverage of the most advanced theory andtechniques, the author provides context by discussing thehistorical evolution of the field and its discoveries. In thatspirit, "recommended reading," provided in each chapter, leadsreaders to both contemporary literature as well as key historicalpapers. Despite being one of many specialties within physics, cavityquantum electrodynamics serves as a window to many of thefundamental issues of physics. Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics willserve as an excellent resource for advanced undergraduate quantummechanics courses as well as for graduate students, researchers,and scientists who need a comprehensive introduction to the field.

Electron and photon confinement in semiconductor nanostructures is one of the most active areas in solid state research. Written by leading experts in solid state physics, this book provides both a comprehensive review as well as a excellent introduction to fundamental and applied aspects of light-matter coupling in microcavities. Topics covered include parametric amplification and polariton liquids, quantum fluid and non-linear dynamical effects and parametric instabilities, polariton squeezing, Bose-Einstein condensation of microcavity polaritons, spin dynamics of exciton-polaritons, polariton correlation produced by parametric scattering, progress in III-nitride distributed Bragg reflectors using AlInN/GaN materials, high efficiency planar MCLEDs, exciton-polaritons and nanoscale cavities in photonic crystals, and MBE growth of high finesse microcavities.

The work provides fundamental expertise of quantum optics and photonic quantum technology with particular attention to the generation of non-classical light with semiconductor nanostructures. The book is written by experimentalists for experimentalists at various career stages: physics and engineering students, researchers in quantum optics, industry experts in quantum technology. A didactical structure is followed, having in each chapter overview and summary of the discussed topics, allowing for a quick consultation. The book covers:

In the last few years it was seen the emergence of various new quantum phenomena specifically related with electronic or optical confinement on a sub-wavelength-size. Fast developments simultaneously occurred in the field of Atomic Physics, notably through various regimes of Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics, and in Solid State Physics, with advances in Quantum Well technology and Nanooptoelectronics. Simultaneously, breakthroughs in Near-Field Optics provided new tools which should be widely applicable to these domains. However, the key concepts used to describe these new and partly related effects are often very different and specific of the Community involved in a given development. It has been the ambition of the Meeting held at "Centre de Physique des Houches" to give an opportunity to specialists of different Communities to deepen their understanding of advances more or less intimately related to their own field, while presenting the basic concepts of these different fields through pedagogical Introductions. The audience comprised advanced students, postdocs and senior scientists, with a balanced participation of Atomic Physicists and Solid State Physicists, and had a truly international character. The considerable efforts of the lecturers, in order to present exciting new results in a language accessible to the whole audience, were the essential ingredients to achieve successfully what was the main goal of this School.