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Semiconductor surface emitting lasers for photon pairs generation
Luc R Vanbever1, Evgueni Karpov1, Krassimir Panajotov2
1Quantum Information and Communication, Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, CP 165, Universite libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium.
Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.)
|November 3, 2017
Summary
We explored generating photon pairs in Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) using four-wave mixing. Cavity dispersion significantly reduces photon pair production, impacting VCSEL suitability for quantum applications.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Optics
- Laser Physics
- Non-linear Optics
Background:
- Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are potential sources for quantum information applications.
- Four-wave mixing (FWM) is a non-linear optical process capable of generating entangled photon pairs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility of generating photon pairs via degenerate FWM in a resonant VCSEL.
- To analyze the impact of cavity dispersion on photon pair generation rates.
- To identify optimal VCSEL characteristics for efficient photon pair production.
Main Methods:
- Utilized quantum optics methods to model the FWM process within a VCSEL cavity.
- Calculated the two-photon production rate, photon spectrum, and signal-idler cross-correlations.
- Considered a standard Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) medium within the VCSEL.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that resonant FWM in VCSELs can generate signal and idler photon pairs.
- Showed that the dispersion of the GaAs medium significantly diminishes the two-photon production rate.
- Quantified the reduction in photon pair generation due to cavity dispersion effects.
Conclusions:
- VCSELs are feasible for photon pair generation, but dispersion poses a significant challenge.
- Specific VCSEL designs minimizing dispersion are required for efficient quantum light sources.
- Results provide guidance for engineering VCSELs tailored for quantum optics applications.
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