Single-Photon Source Using Optical Excitation for Mass Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current single-photon sources that emit exactly one photon in response to electrical excitation are not suitable for mass production due to difficulties in making electrical contact with nanoscale active solid bodies and require separate excitation units for optical excitation, limiting their scalability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A single-photon source comprising an active solid body on the surface or interface of an electrically operated primary light source, where the active solid body emits a single photon with lower emission energy within a predefined time period, allowing for miniaturization and easy handling, and using wavelength-dependent filtering to suppress excess photons from the primary light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If quantum effects are used in nanoscale active solid bodies to emit single photons, then single-photon emission is achieved, but making electrical contact becomes very difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary (excitation light source) to bridge the gap between electrical signal generation and single-photon emission. Instead of directly contacting the nanoscale active solid body electrically, the system uses an optical field to excite the quantum emitter, which then emits single photons in response to the optical excitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical contact system with an optical excitation system. Rather than attempting to make physical electrical contact with the nanoscale active solid body, the invention uses light to excite the quantum emitter, thereby eliminating the need for direct electrical contact while maintaining single-photon emission capability.
2Reliability
If optical excitation is used to avoid electrical contact difficulties, then single-photon emission is achieved, but a separate excitation unit is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the excitation light source with the active solid body into a single integrated structure. The excitation unit and the quantum emitter are combined such that the light source is positioned in direct contact with or extremely close to the active solid body, eliminating the need for separate, complex excitation systems while maintaining single-photon emission capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If LEDs are used for electrical excitation and miniaturization, then easy miniaturization and quick switching are achieved, but multiple photons are emitted per pulse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by confining the emission process to a single quantum emitter within the LED structure. While the LED as a whole can emit multiple photons, the active solid body is designed and positioned such that only one quantum emitter is excited per pulse, ensuring single-photon emission while maintaining the miniaturization and electrical excitation advantages of LEDs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the mass production of single-photon sources with improved handling and miniaturization, ensuring reliable and secure transmission of quantum cryptography keys by emitting exactly one photon per excitation event, while allowing for flexible data transmission rates from picoseconds to milliseconds.
Implementation Method 1
the active solid body, which upon excitation with light having photons which each have excitation energy, emits a single photon having lower emission energy
Implementation Method 2
using wavelength-dependent filtering to suppress excess photons from the primary light source
Data Source
AI summary
A single-photon source was developed and the source comprises at least one active solid body, which upon excitation with light haying photons which each have excitation energy, emits a single photon having lower emission energy within a predefined time period. The active solid body is disposed on a surface or an interface of an electrically operated light source for photons having the excitation energy, so that the solid body can be excited through this surface or interface. It was found that the ease of handling and the ability to miniaturize electrical primary light sources can thus advantageously be combined with the ability of the active solid body to emit exactly one photon. Since the active solid body emits only a single photon within a predefined time period, it is no longer a disadvantage if the light source that is used for excitation emits a large number of photons per unit of time. This opens a way to mass-produce single-photon sources, among other things.