Efficient deterministic giant photon phase shift from a single charged quantum dot

Abstract

Solid-state quantum emitters have long been recognised as the ideal platform to realize integrated quantum photonic technologies. We use a self-assembled negatively charged QD in a low Q-factor photonic micropillar to demonstrate for the first time a key figure of merit for deterministic switching and spin-photon entanglement: a shift in phase of an input single photon of $>90^{o}$ with values of up to $2\pi/3$ ($120^{o}$) demonstrated. This $>\pi/2$ ($90^{o}$) measured value represents an important threshold: above this value input photons interact with the emitter deterministically. A deterministic photon-emitter interaction is the only viable scalable means to achieve several vital functionalities not possible in linear optics such as quantum switches and entanglement gates. Our experimentally determined value is limited by mode mismatch between the input laser and the cavity, QD spectral fluctuations and spin relaxation. We determine that up to $80\%$ of the collected photons have interacted with the QD and undergone a phase shift of $\pi$.