NFYK12010U Quantum Nanophotonics

Volume 2015/2016
Education

Master programme in Nanoscience

Master programme in Physics

Content

Quantum optics in solid-state nanophotonic systems is a rapidly progressing research field that focuses on controlling the interaction between light and matter. This opens whole new opportunities for generating entanglement and other quantum resources in a scalable solid-state platform that may lead to practical implementations of quantum-information processing.

The course will provide an introduction to the quantum description of light-matter interaction in nanophotonics. The underlying physics of nanophotonics structures will be introduced in details including photonic-crystal cavities and waveguides. Furthermore, the optical properties of solid-state light emitters (quantum dots) are introduced. The interaction between photons and quantum dots provides the core of the course including the discussion of Wigner-Weisskopf theory of spontaneous emission in nanostructures, the master equation description of light-matter interaction with dephasing, and cavity quantum electrodynamics. This material will form the basis for understanding modern research topics that are considered in the later part of the course including deterministic single-photon sources and giant single-photon nonlinearities, and their applications in quantum-information processing

Learning Outcome

The aim of the course is to bring the students at a level where they are capable of comprehending modern research literature on quantum nanophotonics.

Specifically, after following this course students should be able to:

Skills

  • explain spontaneous emission from quantum dots
  • analyze system-reservoir interaction in the Markoff approximation
  • apply the theory of photon emission in photonic nanostructures
  • discuss methods of creating an efficient single-photon source and the applications of it


Knowledge

  • describe basic principles of photonic crystals
  • explain the concepts of photonic crystal cavities and waveguides
  • explain the basics of the Green's tensor formalism
  • account for the theory of resonance fluorescence


Competences
This course will provide the students with a competent background for doing research within solid-state quantum optics, i.e. through a M.Sc. project.

It is requested that the students have followed the Quantum Optics course or something similar. It is assumed that the students have a good background in quantum mechanics, e.g., through following the physics curriculum of the first three years or something similar.
Lectures and Exercises
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Colloquia
  • 5
  • Exam
  • 1
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 144
  • Theory exercises
  • 28
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination, 25 min
Preparation time: 5 minutes where books and notes are allowed.
Aid
Written aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
More internal examiners
Criteria for exam assesment

The highest mark (12) is given for excellent exam performance that demonstrates full mastering of the above mentioned teaching goals with no or only small irrelevant gaps.

The grade 2 is given to a student who has achieved only minimally the course goals.