“Building a quantum network from self-assembled quantum dots and photonic crystals”
Quantum computing offers the potential to speed up information processing as well as completely secure data transfer. Our research effort aims to create a quantum network consisting of site-controlled cavity-coupled QDs interconnected by waveguides in photonic crystals. The spin of an electron confined to a quantum dot serves as our quantum bit, or “qubit,” because it is relatively long lived, can be placed into a superposition of 0- and 1-states, and evolves according to quantum mechanics. Entanglement between two distant qubits can be achieved if the quantum dots are each coupled to a photonic crystal cavity linked by a waveguide. I will describe the device design and experimental techniques that allow us to charge our quantum dots with a known number of electrons and optically initialize as well as manipulate their spin. I will also talk about the material science and engineering challenges of integrating this basic qubit into photonic crystals and the steps we have taken towards this integration.