Quantum optical switches and beam splitters with surface plasmons

Abstract

We propose a nano-device, produced by a two-level quantum dot coupling with two different surface plasmons, to control the transport of the resonant photons along the waveguides. Our numerical results clearly show that the transporting probabilities of the incident photons are controlled by adjusting the coupling strength between the quantum dot and the surface plasmons. Therefore, the proposed nano-device can be served as either a quantum optical switcher or a beam splitter of the resonant photons. The feasibility with the experimental quantum dots and nanowires is also discussed. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.