We present a numerical investigation of the performance of the micropillar cavity single-photon source in terms of collection efficiency and indistinguishability of the emitted photons in the presence of non-Markovian phonon-induced decoherence. We analyze the physics governing the efficiency using a single-mode model, and we optimize efficiency ε and the indistinguishability η on an equal footing by computing εη as function of the micropillar design parameters. We show that εη is limited to ∼ 0.96 for the ideal geometry due to an inherent trade-off between efficiency and indistinguishability. Finally, we subsequently consider the influence of realistic fabrication imperfections and Markovian pure dephasing noise on the performance.

Whereas the Si photonic platform is highly attractive for scalable optical quantum information processing, it lacks practical solutions for efficient photon generation. Self-assembled semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) efficiently emit photons in the telecom bands (1460–1625 nm) and allow for heterogeneous integration with Si. In this work, we report on a novel, robust, and industry-compatible approach for achieving single-photon emission from InAs/InP QDs heterogeneously integrated with a Si substrate. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate a simple vertical emitting device, employing a metallic mirror beneath the QD emitter, and experimentally obtained photon extraction efficiencies of ∼10%. Nevertheless, the figures of merit of our structures are comparable with values previously only achieved for QDs emitting at shorter wavelength or by applying technically demanding fabrication processes. Our architecture and the simple fabrication procedure allows for the demonstration of high-purity single-photon generation with a second-order correlation function at zero time delay, g (2)(τ = 0) < 0.02, without any corrections at continuous wave excitation at the liquid helium temperature and preserved up to 50 K. For pulsed excitation, we achieve the as-measured g (2)(0) down to 0.205 ± 0.020 (0.114 ± 0.020 with background coincidences subtracted).

We consider accurate full‐wave solutions of plasmonic problems using the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA). Metallic structures at optical frequencies are modeled by using the Lorentz‐Drude model, formulated with surface integral equations, and analyzed iteratively via MLFMA. Among alternative choices, the electric and magnetic current combined‐field integral equation (JMCFIE) and the combined tangential formulation (CTF), which are popular integral‐equation formulations for penetrable objects, are discretized with the conventional Rao‐Wilton‐Glisson functions and used to model plasmonic structures. We discuss electromagnetic interactions in plasmonic media and show how far‐field interactions may be omitted for improving the efficiency without sacrificing the accuracy of results. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 26:335–341, 2016.

A novel vectorial modal method is presented based on transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) mode expansion, which signicantly simplies the evaluation of the operator matrix.The method, which features a true open boundary condition, is introduced for an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system with the specic examples of circular and elliptical geometries presented.We validate the method by considering challenging problems, such as the calculation of spontaneous emission rates, of modal reection coecients and of the eect of the emitter spatial misalignment on the spontaneous emission β factor. Results are compared with literature.