Scalability and miniaturization are hallmarks of solid-state platforms for photonic quantum technologies. Still a main challenge is two-photon interference from distinct emitters on chip. This requires local tuning, integration, and novel approaches to understand and tame noise processes. A promising platform is that of molecular single-photon sources. Thousands of molecules with optically tunable emission frequency can be easily isolated in solid matrices and triggered with pulsed excitation. We here discuss Hong–Ou–Mandel interference experiments using several couples of molecules within few tens of microns. Quantum interference is observed in real time, enabling the analysis of local environment effects at different time scales.
Single molecules in solid state matrices have been proposed as sources of single photon Fock states back 20 years ago. Their success in quantum optics and in many other research fields stems from the simple recipes used in the preparation of samples, with hundreds of nominally identical and isolated molecules. Main challenges as of today for their application in photonic quantum technologies are the optimization of light extraction and the on-demand emission of indistinguishable photons. We here present Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) experiments with photons emitted by a single molecule of dibenzoterrylene in an anthracene nanocrystal at 3 K, under continuous wave and also pulsed excitation. A detailed theoretical model is applied, which relies on independent measurements for most experimental parameters, hence allowing for an analysis of the different contributions to the two-photon interference visibility, from residual dephasing to spectral filtering. A HOM interference visibility of more than 75% is reported, which, according to the model, is limited by the residual dephasing present at the operating temperature.
We present Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) experiments with photons emitted by a single molecule of Dibenzoterrylene in an Anthracene nanocrystal under pulsed excitation, and preliminary results for photons emitted by two spatially-separated molecules on the same sample.
A major challenge in photonic quantum technologies is two-photon interference from distinct quantum emitters on the same chip. Here, we show and discuss recent results on Hong-Ou-Mandel interference experiments using couples of single organic molecules within few tens of microns, yielding post-selected visibilities of up to 97%. In particular, we discuss the potential interest for future realizations of measurement-device independent quantum key distribution protocols for information-theoretic secure communication.
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