Hunger, David

Date:   Wednesday, August 7, 2019
Time:   10:00
Place:   ETH Zurich, Hönggerberg, HPZ E 35
Host:    Christian Degen

Quantum and nano-optics with tunable microcavities

David Hunger
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany

Optical microcavities are a powerful tool to enhance light-matter interactions. This enables applications ranging from ultra-sensitive spectroscopy and sensing to quantum information. To achieve large cavity enhancement on an accessible platform, we have developed microscopic Fabry-Perot cavities based on laser-machined optical fibers [1].

We employ such cavities to realize efficient readout of individual quantum emitters by means of Purcell enhancement of fluorescence emission. We study solid state quantum emitters such as NV centers in diamond [2,3] and rare earth ions [4], with the goal to realize a quantum repeater for long-distance quantum communication, and optically addressable multi-qubit registers as quantum computing nodes.

In a different direction in the context of sensing, we use microcavities for imaging and spectroscopy applications, as well as for sensing of dynamic properties of individual nanosystems. We have developed scanning cavity microscopy as a versatile method for spatially and spectrally resolved maps of various optical properties of a sample with ultra-high sensitivity [5,6]. Simultaneous enhancement of absorptive, dispersive, and scattering signals promises intriguing potential for optical studies of nanomaterials, molecules and biological nanosystems.

[1] D. Hunger et al., New J. Phys. 12, 065038 (2010)
[2] H. Kaupp et al., Phys Rev Applied 6, 054010 (2016)
[3] J. Benedikter et al., Phys Rev Applied 7, 024031 (2017)
[4] B. Casabone et al., New J. Phys. 20, 095006 (2018)
[5] M. Mader et al., Nature Commun. 6, 7249 (2015)
[6] T. Trümmer et al., Nature Commun. 7, 12155 (2016)