Quantum dots (QDs) are emerging as efficient single-photon sources, propelling advancements across quantum technologies from secure communications to scalable quantum computing. Thanks to the breakthroughs in the last decade, QDs now exhibit high brightness, exceptionally high single-photon purity, high indistinguishability and the ability to generate entangled photons. Those properties make them perfect candidates for applications like Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and photonic quantum computing.
In this seminar, we’ll explore both topics. The first part looks into how the spin dynamics of a single electron confined in a semiconductor QD can be harnessed to generate cluster states, key resources for measurement-based quantum computing. We’ll also explore how to generate more intricate graph states, known as caterpillar states, through advanced pulse sequences.

In the second part, we’ll shift focus to quantum communication. I’ll present recent proof-of-concept experiments demonstrating an implementation of QKD using QD-based single-photon sources. We’ll examine how secret key rates scale with distance using QDs and lasers, revealing a promising intermediate regime where both sources can be mixed.