{"id":{"repo_id":"cambridge","oai_identifier":"oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/283189"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cambridge/oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/283189","repository":{"repo_id":"cambridge","name":"Cambridge University","base_url":"https://api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"A Single-photon Source Based on a Lateral n-i-p Junction Driven by a Surface Acoustic Wave","abstract":"Single-photon sources are essential building blocks in quantum photonic networks, where quantum-mechanical properties of photons are utilised to achieve quantum technologies such as quantum cryptography and quantum computing. In this thesis, a single-photon source driven by a surface acoustic wave (SAW) is developed and characterised. This single-photon source is based on a SAW-driven lateral n-i-p junction in a GaAs quantum-well structure. On this device, the lateral n-i-p junction is formed by gate-induced electrons and holes in two adjacent regions. The SAW potential minima create dynamic quantum dots in a 1D channel between these two regions, and are able to transport single electrons to the region of holes along the channel. Single-photon emission can therefore be generated as these electrons consecutively recombine with holes. After characterisation and optimisation in four batches of devices, clear SAW-driven charge transport and the corresponding electroluminescence (EL) can be observed on an optimised SAW-driven n-i-p junction. Time-resolved measurements have been carried out to study the dynamics of SAW-driven electrons. Time-resolved EL signals indicate that a packet of electrons is transported to the region of holes in each SAW minimum. In addition, the carrier lifetime of SAW-driven electrons in the region of holes is shown to be $\\sim 100$ ps, which is much shorter than the SAW period of $860$ ps. Hence, it is promising to observe single-photon emission in the optimised device. In order to test single-photon emission, a Hanbury Brown-Twiss experimental setup has been employed to record an autocorrelation histogram of the SAW-driven EL signal at the single-electron regime. Suppression of autocorrelation coincidences at time delay $\\Delta t = 0$ is evidence of photon antibunching. By fitting theoretical functions describing the SAW-driven EL signal, it is found that the second-order correlation function shows $g^{(2)}(0) = 0.39 \\pm 0.05$, which is lower than the common criterion for a single-photon source $g^{(2)}(0) < 0.5$. Moreover, theoretical calculation and simulation suggest that, if a constant background signal can be filtered out, $\\sim 80 \\%$ of the SAW-driven EL is single-photon emission.","abstract_html":"Single-photon sources are essential building blocks in quantum photonic networks, where quantum-mechanical properties of photons are utilised to achieve quantum technologies such as quantum cryptography and quantum computing. In this thesis, a single-photon source driven by a surface acoustic wave (SAW) is developed and characterised. This single-photon source is based on a SAW-driven lateral n-i-p junction in a GaAs quantum-well structure. On this device, the lateral n-i-p junction is formed by gate-induced electrons and holes in two adjacent regions. The SAW potential minima create dynamic quantum dots in a 1D channel between these two regions, and are able to transport single electrons to the region of holes along the channel. Single-photon emission can therefore be generated as these electrons consecutively recombine with holes. After characterisation and optimisation in four batches of devices, clear SAW-driven charge transport and the corresponding electroluminescence (EL) can be observed on an optimised SAW-driven n-i-p junction. Time-resolved measurements have been carried out to study the dynamics of SAW-driven electrons. Time-resolved EL signals indicate that a packet of electrons is transported to the region of holes in each SAW minimum. In addition, the carrier lifetime of SAW-driven electrons in the region of holes is shown to be $\\sim 100$ ps, which is much shorter than the SAW period of $860$ ps. Hence, it is promising to observe single-photon emission in the optimised device. In order to test single-photon emission, a Hanbury Brown-Twiss experimental setup has been employed to record an autocorrelation histogram of the SAW-driven EL signal at the single-electron regime. Suppression of autocorrelation coincidences at time delay $\\Delta t = 0$ is evidence of photon antibunching. By fitting theoretical functions describing the SAW-driven EL signal, it is found that the second-order correlation function shows <span class=\"etd-inline-math\">g<sup>(2)</sup>(0) = 0.39 \\pm 0.05</span>, which is lower than the common criterion for a single-photon source <span class=\"etd-inline-math\">g<sup>(2)</sup>(0) &lt; 0.5</span>. Moreover, theoretical calculation and simulation suggest that, if a constant background signal can be filtered out, $\\sim 80 \\%$ of the SAW-driven EL is single-photon emission.","abstract_has_math":true,"creators":["Hsiao, Tzu-Kan"],"institution":"University of Cambridge","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Ford, Chris"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2018,"date_issued":"2018-10-31","date_published":"2018-10-31","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:33:23Z","subjects":["surface acoustic wave","single-photon source","quantum information","quantum computing","undoped GaAs quantum well","lateral n-i-p junction"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/9c99f092-4bce-49a2-a8df-bfc75a18fff1/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.30552","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.doi"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Ford, Chris"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.sponsor","label":"Sponsor","values":["Cambridge Overseas Trust, Taiwan Government, Robinson college, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge Student Registry."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Hsiao, Tzu-Kan"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2018-10-31"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cambridge"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby.uri","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby URI","values":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/283189"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["surface acoustic wave","single-photon source","quantum information","quantum computing","undoped GaAs quantum well","lateral n-i-p junction"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/9c99f092-4bce-49a2-a8df-bfc75a18fff1/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["10.17863/CAM.30552"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/3c28ddd4-e9d5-41f5-a37e-28c57c5ac870/download"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Single-photon sources are essential building blocks in quantum photonic networks, where quantum-mechanical properties of photons are utilised to achieve quantum technologies such as quantum cryptography and quantum computing. In this thesis, a single-photon source driven by a surface acoustic wave (SAW) is developed and characterised. This single-photon source is based on a SAW-driven lateral n-i-p junction in a GaAs quantum-well structure. On this device, the lateral n-i-p junction is formed by gate-induced electrons and holes in two adjacent regions. The SAW potential minima create dynamic quantum dots in a 1D channel between these two regions, and are able to transport single electrons to the region of holes along the channel. Single-photon emission can therefore be generated as these electrons consecutively recombine with holes. After characterisation and optimisation in four batches of devices, clear SAW-driven charge transport and the corresponding electroluminescence (EL) can be observed on an optimised SAW-driven n-i-p junction. Time-resolved measurements have been carried out to study the dynamics of SAW-driven electrons. Time-resolved EL signals indicate that a packet of electrons is transported to the region of holes in each SAW minimum. In addition, the carrier lifetime of SAW-driven electrons in the region of holes is shown to be $\\sim 100$ ps, which is much shorter than the SAW period of $860$ ps. Hence, it is promising to observe single-photon emission in the optimised device. In order to test single-photon emission, a Hanbury Brown-Twiss experimental setup has been employed to record an autocorrelation histogram of the SAW-driven EL signal at the single-electron regime. Suppression of autocorrelation coincidences at time delay $\\Delta t = 0$ is evidence of photon antibunching. By fitting theoretical functions describing the SAW-driven EL signal, it is found that the second-order correlation function shows $g^{(2)}(0) = 0.39 \\pm 0.05$, which is lower than the common criterion for a single-photon source $g^{(2)}(0) < 0.5$. Moreover, theoretical calculation and simulation suggest that, if a constant background signal can be filtered out, $\\sim 80 \\%$ of the SAW-driven EL is single-photon emission."]},{"key":"dc:format.checksum.md5","label":"Dc Format Checksum Md5","values":["8d1f6df332b06e6faf218ec087c9d45d","87eda9de84448d1f82354d60eee3eb5f"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Single-photon Source Based on a Lateral n-i-p Junction Driven by a Surface Acoustic Wave"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Ford, Chris"],"dc:contributor.sponsor":["Cambridge Overseas Trust, Taiwan Government, Robinson college, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge Student Registry."],"dc:creator":["Hsiao, Tzu-Kan"],"dc:date.issued":["2018-10-31"],"dc:description.abstract":["Single-photon sources are essential building blocks in quantum photonic networks, where quantum-mechanical properties of photons are utilised to achieve quantum technologies such as quantum cryptography and quantum computing. In this thesis, a single-photon source driven by a surface acoustic wave (SAW) is developed and characterised. This single-photon source is based on a SAW-driven lateral n-i-p junction in a GaAs quantum-well structure. On this device, the lateral n-i-p junction is formed by gate-induced electrons and holes in two adjacent regions. The SAW potential minima create dynamic quantum dots in a 1D channel between these two regions, and are able to transport single electrons to the region of holes along the channel. Single-photon emission can therefore be generated as these electrons consecutively recombine with holes. After characterisation and optimisation in four batches of devices, clear SAW-driven charge transport and the corresponding electroluminescence (EL) can be observed on an optimised SAW-driven n-i-p junction. Time-resolved measurements have been carried out to study the dynamics of SAW-driven electrons. Time-resolved EL signals indicate that a packet of electrons is transported to the region of holes in each SAW minimum. In addition, the carrier lifetime of SAW-driven electrons in the region of holes is shown to be $\\sim 100$ ps, which is much shorter than the SAW period of $860$ ps. Hence, it is promising to observe single-photon emission in the optimised device. In order to test single-photon emission, a Hanbury Brown-Twiss experimental setup has been employed to record an autocorrelation histogram of the SAW-driven EL signal at the single-electron regime. Suppression of autocorrelation coincidences at time delay $\\Delta t = 0$ is evidence of photon antibunching. By fitting theoretical functions describing the SAW-driven EL signal, it is found that the second-order correlation function shows $g^{(2)}(0) = 0.39 \\pm 0.05$, which is lower than the common criterion for a single-photon source $g^{(2)}(0) < 0.5$. Moreover, theoretical calculation and simulation suggest that, if a constant background signal can be filtered out, $\\sim 80 \\%$ of the SAW-driven EL is single-photon emission."],"dc:format.checksum.md5":["8d1f6df332b06e6faf218ec087c9d45d","87eda9de84448d1f82354d60eee3eb5f"],"dc:identifier.doi":["10.17863/CAM.30552"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/3c28ddd4-e9d5-41f5-a37e-28c57c5ac870/download"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Cambridge"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby.uri":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/283189"],"dc:rights":["https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/9c99f092-4bce-49a2-a8df-bfc75a18fff1/download","https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/"],"dc:subject":["surface acoustic wave","single-photon source","quantum information","quantum computing","undoped GaAs quantum well","lateral n-i-p junction"],"dc:title":["A Single-photon Source Based on a Lateral n-i-p Junction Driven by a Surface Acoustic Wave"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Doctoral"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:33:23Z"}