The generation of efficient and fast quantised states of light is imperative for many aspects of quantum technology, including computing, cryptography, sensing and imaging. Quantum light sources are important for future quantum-communication protocols, such as quantum teleportation. Standardised efficiency measurements have been introduced into research on solar cells, enforcing a "checklist" that must be reported before claiming an efficiency in any publication. Therefore, there is a need to identify the key measurements required to report the efficiency of single photon sources, independent of material, wavelength and measurement system, which may be reproduced in separate laboratories.
This PhD project, a collaboration between the National Physical Laboratory and Cardiff University, investigates quantum light sources and detectors, in particular fabricating bright and efficient micropillar quantum dot sources. Within this project we are developing novel light sources to determine their efficiency, with a view to creating a "checklist" for the required efficiency measurements.
Semiconductors supply a physics-rich environment to host various quantum light sources applicable for quantum information processing. These light sources have the capacity to generate non-classical photon streams that demonstrate antibunching photon statistics, high-fidelity entanglement, and strong indistinguishability.