A single-photon switch and transistor enabled by a solid-state quantum memory Journal Article

Overview

A single-photon gate; ; A long-standing goal in optics is to produce a solid-state alloptical transistor, in which the transmission of light can be controlled by a single photon that acts as a gate or switch. Sun; et al.; used a solid-state system comprising a quantum dot embedded in a photonic crystal cavity to show that transmission through the cavity can be controlled with a single photon. The single photon is used to manipulate the occupation of electronic energy levels within the quantum dot, which in turn changes its optical properties. With the gate open, about 28 photons can get through the cavity on average, thus demonstrating single-photon switching and the gain for an optical transistor.; ; ; Science; , this issue p.; 57;