The team has taken a step forward by making quantum dot LEDs that can produce entangled photons – whose actions are linked – theoretically enabling their use to encode information in quantum computing.
“The new development here is that we have engineered a scalable array of electrically driven quantum dots using easily-sourced materials and conventional semiconductor fabrication technologies, and our method allows you to direct the position of these sources of entangled photons,” says researcher Dr Emanuele Pelucchi.
This is not the first time that LEDs have been made that can produce entangled photons but, according to Dr Pelucchi, the new technology makes it easier to control the positions of the quantum dots and to build them at scale.
The Tyndall technology uses nanotechnology to electrify arrays of the pyramid-shaped quantum dots so they produce entangled photons.
“We exploit intrinsic nanoscale properties of the whole ‘pyramidal’ structure, in particular, an engineered self-assembled vertical quantum wire, which injects current into the vicinity of a quantum dot,” explains Dr Pelucchi.
“The reported results are an important step towards the realisation of integrated quantum photonic circuits designed for quantum information processing tasks, where thousands or more sources would function in unison.”
