Permanent dipole moments improve quantum coherence near plasmonic structures

Area of Science:

• Quantum Optics
• Nanophotonics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Plasmonic nanostructures create localized electromagnetic fields for nanoscale light-QE interactions.
• Spatial field variations in plasmonic systems demand precise emitter placement, hindering scalability and robustness.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the impact of permanent dipole moments (PDMs) in quantum emitters (QEs) on their optical response within plasmonic environments.
• Determine if PDMs can mitigate the challenges posed by field inhomogeneity in quantum photonic systems.

Main Methods:

• Developed a theoretical model considering PDMs in QEs interacting with plasmonic nanostructures.
• Performed simulations of QEs near a plasmonic nanosphere to analyze optical response and decay rates.
• Examined the nonlinear dependence of coupling strength and spontaneous emission on local field amplitude.

Main Results:

• PDMs introduce nonlinearities, reducing spatial variations in QE-plasmonic coupling strength and spontaneous emission rates.
• Simulations show stabilized Rabi oscillations and extended coherence times for QEs with PDMs, even in strong field gradients.
• PDMs effectively stabilize QE optical properties against plasmonic field inhomogeneity.

Conclusions:

• Quantum emitters with permanent dipole moments offer a pathway to more robust quantum photonic systems.
• Exploiting PDMs can overcome emitter placement limitations, benefiting quantum control, information processing, and nanophotonic device design.