Quantum Nanostructures: Entangled Photon Sources

This lecture delves into the properties of semiconducting quantum nanostructures, focusing on the fine structure splitting in single InAs/GaAs quantum dots. The instructor explains the significance of canceling this splitting to generate entangled photon pairs for quantum communication. The lecture also covers photon statistics, second-order correlation functions, and the behavior of individual quantum dots as single photon emitters. Various aspects of the electronic structure of semiconductor quantum dots are explored, including the role of Coulomb interactions, charged states, and biexcitons. The control of fine-structure splitting and the measurement of photon statistics are discussed, emphasizing the importance of coherence assessment in quantum communication applications.