Routing single photons with quantum emitters coupled to nanostructures

2025/11/04 by Duda, Mateusz, Mills, Eve O., Martin, Nicholas J. +2
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #Strong Light-Matter Interactions

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2511.02698

openalex publication_date 2025/11/04 · openalex created_date 2025/11/06 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

Quantum emitters coupled to nanophotonic structures are an excellent platform for controllable single-photon scattering. The tunable light-matter interaction enables the construction of a single-photon switch -- a device that can route a single photon from an input port to a selected output port. Such single-photon switching devices can be integrated into reconfigurable photonic circuits to actively control the photon propagation direction in a quantum network. Ideally, a single-photon switch should operate with high speed, efficiency, and fidelity, preserving the state of the input photon in the routing process. This review brings together key input-output methods from quantum optics, theoretical proposals of emitter-based single-photon routing mechanisms, and experimental demonstrations of single-photon switching devices across different physical platforms, including semiconductor quantum dots, neutral atoms, superconducting qubits, and color centers. We highlight the need for reporting the key figures of merit (speed/efficiency/fidelity) in future single-photon switch demonstrations to support further developments in the field.

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Related

• Control of a single-photon router via an extra cavity
• Quantum switches for single-photon routing and entanglement generation in waveguide-based networks
• Tunable quantum photonic routing using a coupled giant-atom-like array
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• A single-photon microwave switch with recoverable control photon