Photon statistics in semiconductor nanostructures

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Peter Michler
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2002 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5469731

The goal of this research project is to study the photon statistics of the light emitted from single semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), QDs in microcavities, and microcavity lasers. Photon correlation measurements will be performed to study the single photon emission from a pillar microcavity based on a single quantum dot on resonance with the microcavity mode. We will investigate the purity, the efficiency, the polarization properties, and the maximum modulation frequency of the single photon emission. Another goal of the project is to study the generation of entangled photons from a single quantum dot. We will test this possibility and the experiments will show the correlation degree of the photons. Furthermore, the photon statistics of microcavity lasers with high ß-factors and coupled QD-cavity systems which are in the strong coupling regime will be investigated. The results from these investigations will form a fundamental basis for the future development of solid-state light sources which can be used e.g. for quantum cryptography, quantum computing, and quantum lithography. In addition, fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics can be explored with such kind of light sources.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 485: Quantum Optics in Semiconductor Nanostructures