US NIST Aligns Quantum Dots with Photonic Components

Researchers at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and their colleagues have made significant strides in the field of quantum dot alignment. They have developed standards and calibrations for optical microscopes that enable quantum dots to be aligned with the center of a photonic component with remarkable precision. This alignment, accurate to within an error of 10 to 20nm, is crucial for chip-scale devices that utilize quantum dots to store and transmit quantum information.

For the first time, the NIST researchers have achieved this level of accuracy across the entire image from an optical microscope. This breakthrough allows them to correct the positions of numerous individual quantum dots. A model created by the researchers suggests that calibrating microscopes using these new standards could potentially increase the number of high-performance devices by up to a hundred-fold.

This newfound capability has the potential to revolutionize quantum information technologies that are transitioning from research settings to commercial applications. While devices capturing light from millions of quantum dots have already made their way into the market, newer quantum-dot devices requiring precise alignment have faced delays in commercialization.

In their innovative approach, researchers including Craig Copeland, Samuel Stavis, and collaborators from the Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) established traceable standards and calibrations for optical microscopes used in guiding quantum dot alignment. Copeland emphasized the complexity of accurately placing photonic components on quantum dots, highlighting the challenges posed by measurement errors.

The NIST method, detailed in an article published in Optica Quantum, addresses and corrects errors that were previously overlooked. By creating traceable standards for optical microscopes at both room and cryogenic temperatures, the researchers have paved the way for enhanced accuracy in quantum dot alignment and fabrication processes.