This book highlights the most recent developments in quantum dot spin physics and the generation of deterministic superior non-classical light states with quantum dots. In particular, it addresses single quantum dot spin manipulation, spin-photon entanglement and the generation of single-photon and entangled photon pair states with nearly ideal properties. The role of semiconductor microcavities, nanophotonic interfaces as well as quantum photonic integrated circuits is emphasized. The latest theoretical and experimental studies of phonon-dressed light matter interaction, single-dot lasing and resonance fluorescence in QD cavity systems are also provided. The book is written by the leading experts in the field.

Filling a gap in the literature, this up-to-date introduction to the field provides an overview of current experimental techniques, basic theoretical concepts, and sample fabrication methods. Following an introduction, this monograph deals with optically active quantum dots and their integration into electro-optical devices, before looking at the theory of quantum confined states and quantum dots interacting with the radiation field. Final chapters cover spin-spin interaction in quantum dots as well as spin and charge states, showing how to use single spins for break-through quantum computation. A conclusion and outlook round off the volume. The result is a primer providing the essential basic knowledge necessary for young researchers entering the field, as well as semiconductor and theoretical physicists, PhD students in physics and material sciences, electrical engineers and materials scientists.

This thesis offers a comprehensive introduction to surface acoustic waves in the quantum regime. It addresses two of the most significant technological challenges in developing a scalable quantum information processor based on spins in quantum dots: (i) decoherence of the electronic spin qubit due to the surrounding nuclear spin bath, and (ii) long-range spin-spin coupling between remote qubits. Electron spins confined in quantum dots (QDs) are among the leading contenders for implementing quantum information processing. To this end, the author pursues novel strategies that turn the unavoidable coupling to the solid-state environment (in particular, nuclear spins and phonons) into a valuable asset rather than a liability.

This multidisciplinary book provides up-to-date coverage of carrier and spin dynamics and energy transfer and structural interaction among nanostructures. Coverage also includes current device applications such as quantum dot lasers and detectors, as well as future applications to quantum information processing. The book will serve as a reference for anyone working with or planning to work with quantum dots.

This book reviews recent advances in the field of semiconductor quantum dots via contributions from prominent researchers in the scientific community. Special focus is given to optical, quantum optical, and spin properties of single quantum dots.

Semiconductor quantum dots are attractive building blocks for scalable quantum information processing systems. The spin-up and spin-down states of a single electon, trapped inside a quantum dot, form a single quantum bit (qubit) with a long decoherence time. The electron spin qubit can be coupled to excited states using an optical field, which provides an opportunity to quickly manipulate the spin with optical pulses, and to interface between a stationary matter spin qubit and a 'flying' photonic qubit for quantum communication. The quantum dot's interaction with light may be enhanced by placing the quantum dot inside of an optical microcavity. Finally, the entire system is monolithically integrated, and modern semiconductor fabrication technology offers a path towards scalability. This work presents experimental developments towards the utilization of single quantum dot electron spins in quantum information processing. We demonstrate a complete set of all-optical single-qubit operations on a single quantum dot spin: initialization, an arbitrary gate, and measurement. First, initialization into a pure spin state (logical 0) is accomplished on a nanosecond timescale by optical pumping. Next an ultrafast single-qubit gate, consisting of a series of broadband laser pulses, rotates the spin to any arbitrary position on the Bloch sphere within 40 picoseconds. Finally, the spin state is measured by photoluminescence detection. We then combine these operations to perform a 'spin echo' sequence on the quantum dot. The spin echo extends the qubit's coherence (memory) time from a few nanoseconds to a few microseconds, more than 10^5 times longer than the single-qubit gate time. We next investigate a feedback mechanism between the electron spin and nuclear spins within the quantum dot, which leads to dynamical pumping of the quantum dot's nuclear magnetization. Finally, we take the first step towards interfacing a stationary matter quantum bit with a flying photonic qubit by strongly-coupling a quantum dot exciton to a pillar microcavity. An anti-crossing of the cavity and excitonic modes indicates that the exciton and cavity modes are coupled more strongly to each other than to the rest of their environment, while photon statistics prove that we have successfully isolated and coupled a single quantum dot exciton.