Single-photon source based on Rydberg exciton blockade

Abstract

We propose to implement a new kind of solid-state single-photon source based on the recently observed Rydberg blockade effect for excitons in cuprous oxide. The strong interaction between excitons in levels with high principal quantum numbers prevents the creation of more than one exciton in a small crystal. The resulting effective two-level system is a good single-photon source. Our quantitative estimates suggest that GHz rates and values of the second-order correlation function $g_2(0)$ below the percent level should be simultaneously achievable.