Optomechanical tuning of the polarization properties of micropillar cavity systems with embedded quantum dots

Abstract

Strain tuning emerged as an appealing tool for tuning of fundamental optical properties of solid-state quantum emitters. In particular, the wavelength and fine structure of quantum dot states can be tuned using hybrid semiconductor-piezoelectric devices. Here, we show how an applied external stress can directly impact the polarization properties of coupled InAs quantum dot-micropillar cavity systems. In our experiment, we find that we can reversibly tune the anisotropic polarization splitting of the fundamental microcavity mode by approximately 60 μeV. We discuss the origin of this tuning mechanism, which arises from an interplay between elastic deformation and the photoelastic effect in our micropillar. Finally, we exploit this effect to tune the quantum dot polarization optomechanically via the polarization-anisotropic Purcell effect. Our work paves the way for optomechanical and reversible tuning of the polarization and spin properties of light-matter-coupled solid-state systems.

Optomechanically Induced Faraday Effect with Mechanical Driving and Coulomb Coupling

“…[ 38–41 ] Benefiting from the coherent acoustic sources of phononic devices in practical applications, [ 42,43 ] the transparency windows and the corresponding group delays can be manipulated flexibly via mechanical driving, [ 44–47 ] which can be easily implemented for numerous MRs. [ 48–51 ] In the above works, although the manipulation of scalar properties of photons has been thoroughly studied with COS, there is still extensive space to discuss its vector properties. [ 52–54 ]…”

“…[38][39][40][41] Benefiting from the coherent acoustic sources of phononic devices in practical applications, [42,43] the transparency windows and the corresponding group delays can be manipulated flexibly via mechanical driving, [44][45][46][47] which can be easily implemented for numerous MRs. [48][49][50][51] In the above works, although the manipulation of scalar properties of photons has been thoroughly studied with COS, there is still extensive space to discuss its vector properties. [52][53][54] In 2019, a new degree of optical control was first proposed to study the OMIF effect and the manipulation of arbitrary optical polarization states by complex parameter coupling in the traditional COS. [55] The conversion efficiency between polarization modes is highly dependent on the optomechanical interaction strength. Reaching sufficient cooperativity for efficient polarization conversion is particularly challenging, and therefore previous attempts at optical polarization control in optomechanical systems have not been particularly practical.…”

Tuning the mode-splitting of a semiconductor microcavity with uniaxial stress

“…One can use the electrooptic and photoelastic effects to reverse or enhance the birefringence in semiconductor cavities, as previously demonstrated in monolithic structures [12][13][14] . Here, we present a way of tuning the mode-splitting of an open microcavity by making use of the photoelastic effect, i.e.…”