Coherent characterisation of a single molecule in a photonic black box

Year: 2021

Authors: Boissier S., Schofield R.C., Jin L., Ovvyan A., Nur S., Koppens F.H.L., Toninelli C., Pernice W.H.P., Major K.D., Hinds E.A., Clark A.S.

Autors Affiliation: Imperial Coll London, Ctr Cold Matter, Blackett Lab, London, England; Univ Munster, Westfalische Wilhelms, Phys Inst, Munster, Germany; Barcelona Inst Sci & Technol, ICFO Inst Ciencies Foton, Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain; ICREA Inst Catalana Recerca & Estudis Avancats, Barcelona, Spain; LENS, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; CNR INO, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy

Abstract: Extinction spectroscopy is a powerful tool for demonstrating the coupling of a single quantum emitter to a photonic structure. However, it can be challenging in all but the simplest of geometries to deduce an accurate value of the coupling efficiency from the measured spectrum. Here we develop a theoretical framework to deduce the coupling efficiency from the measured transmission and reflection spectra without precise knowledge of the photonic environment. We then consider the case of a waveguide interrupted by a transverse cut in which an emitter is placed. We apply that theory to a silicon nitride waveguide interrupted by a gap filled with anthracene that is doped with dibenzoterrylene molecules. We describe the fabrication of these devices, and experimentally characterise the waveguide coupling of a single molecule in the gap.

Journal/Review: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

Volume: 12 (1)      Pages from: 706-1  to: 706-8

More Information: We thank Jon Dyne and Dave Pitman for their expert mechanical workshop support. We also thank David Mack and Javier Cambiasso for their help with nanofabrication. This work was supported by EPSRC (EP/P030130/1, EP/P01058X/1, EP/R044031/1, EP/P510257/1 and EP/L016524/1), the Royal Society (UF160475, RGF/R1/180066 and RGF/EA/180203) and the EraNET Cofund Initiative QuantERA under the European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, Grant No. 731473 (ORQUID Project).
KeyWords: nanophotonics
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20915-z