Site-controlled quantum emitters in dilute nitrides and their integration in photonic crystal cavities

Abstract

We review an innovative approach for the fabrication of site-controlled quantum emitters (i.e., single-photon emitting quantum dots) based on the spatially selective incorporation and/or removal of hydrogen in dilute nitride semiconductors (e.g., GaAsN). In such systems, the formation of stable N-H complexes removes the effects that nitrogen has on the alloy properties, thus enabling the in-plane engineering of the band bap energy of the system. Both a lithographic approach and/or a near-field optical illumination-coupled to the ultra-sharp diffusion profile of H in dilute nitrides-allow us to control the hydrogen implantation and/or removal on a nanometer scale. This, eventually, makes it possible to fabricate site-controlled quantum dots that are able to emit single photons on demand. The strategy for a deterministic spatial and spectral coupling of such quantum emitters with photonic crystal cavities is also presented.