2025/08/28 by Wyborski, Paweł, Paralikis, Athanasios, Metuh, Pietro +4 · 1 citation
#FOS: Physical sciences #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) #Optics (physics.optics) #Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2508.20743
Single-photon sources operating in the telecom band are fundamental components for long-distance optical quantum communication and information processing. Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offer a promising platform for such sources, but their development has been hindered by limited spectral range and poor single-photon indistinguishability. Here, we demonstrate a reproducible and systematic approach for generating near-infrared (1090-1200 nm) quantum emitters in bilayer MoTe2 using deterministic strain and defect engineering. These emitters exhibit strong linear polarization (DOLP >70%), sub-nanosecond lifetimes (τ\leqslant ~450 ps), high single-photon purity (g(2)(0)<0.1), and resolution-limited emission (∼200 μeV). Electrostatic biasing enables Stark tuning over a ∼3 meV range, reduced photon bunching, and significantly shortened radiative lifetimes, yielding narrow emission with ratios of experimental to transform-limited linewidths as low as R∼55. Most notably, two-photon interference measurements reveal a Hong-Ou-Mandel visibility of VHOM∼ 10%, and up to VHOM∼ 40% with post-selection by temporal filtering, representing the highest reported indistinguishability for any TMD quantum emitters and the first such demonstration in the near-infrared regime. These results establish MoTe2 as a viable platform for tunable, low-noise, high-purity single-photon sources with promising indistinguishability, paving the way for their integration into telecom-compatible quantum photonic technologies.