Single atoms coupled to single radiation field modes of a cavity represent the elemental structures in Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics (CQED). Landmark experiments on atoms in cavities have revealed fundamental aspects of coherence in quantum systems and made CQED a central paradigm for the study of open quantum systems. Solid state CQED is now accessing the same questions in a many-body context.

The lack of suitable artificial atoms and cavity technology hindered for a long time the implementation of CQED in solid state, but constant progresses in crystal growth and nanofabrication have been changing the scenario significantly.

In this talk I will focus on three aspects:

1) The effective atomic behavior of electrons spatially confined in InAs/GaAs semiconductor self assembled quantum dots (QDs).
2) The spatial positioning and spectral tuning between single QDs and photonic crystals microcavity (PCM) modes.
3) The demonstration of a deterministic coupling between single QDs and single PCM modes [1]. On resonance, sub-Poissonian statistics of the polariton emitted light validates the quantum nature of the reached strong coupling regime. Off resonance, by measuring second-order photon correlation between QD-exciton and cavity-photons, a remarkable anti-correlation behavior is shown, demonstrating in a deterministic fashion that only part of the atomic cavity QED picture is preserved in solid state [2]. The QD exciton fine structure is also investigated by sequential vacuum Rabi splitting of the neutral (X) and charged (X) exciton [3].

[1] A. Badolato, K. Hennessy et al., Science 308, 1158 (2005);
[2] K. Hennessy, A. Badolato et al., Nature 445, 896 (2007);
[3] M. Winger , A. Badolato et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 226808 (2008).


Seminar, June 11, 2009, 17:00. Seminar Room

Hosted by Prof. Lukas Novotny & Prof. Niek van Hulst