Semiconductor Nanostructures as Efficient Single and Entangled Photon Sources: Theory and Experiment

Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that three-dimensional confinement of excitons within a dot results in an energy spectrum consisting of discrete levels, like those of an atom. Each exciton complex has a unique energy due to the Coulomb interaction between the confined carriers. These properties make them suitable candidates for Single Photon Sources (SPS) and Entangled Photons Sources (EPS). Single-photon emission is possible from any exciton complex that is optically active (bright); following photon emission, there is a finite time delay before re-excitation is possible, so simultaneous emission of multiple photons is greatly suppressed. This results in anti-bunching of the photons emitted, providing a single photon source. Furthermore, the creation of entangled photon pairs is achieved when the spin splitting of the intermediate exciton state in the decay is erased. Single and Entangled Photon Sources constitute the ground work for advances in quantum communications, ranging from quantum cryptography to topics as peculiar as quantum teleportation.

This Special Issue is devoted to the latest research in semiconductor nanostructures such as SPS and EPS and their applications to electronic, optoelectronic, and photonic devices. Blending experimental with numerical and theoretical approaches, it covers all aspects from fundamental growth and material development, to interfaces, device integration, and testing.

Prof. Sotirios Baskoutas
Guest Editor

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