An In-Plane Single-Photon Emitter Combining a Triangular Split-Ring Micro-Optical Resonator and a Colloidal Quantum Dot

We propose a simple and innovative configuration consisting of a quantum dot and micro-optical resonator that emits single photons with good directionality in a plane parallel to the substrate. In this device, a single quantum dot is placed as a light source between the slits of a triangular split-ring micro-optical resonator (SRR) supported in an optical polymer film with an air-bridge structure. Although most of the previous single photon emitters in solid-state devices emitted photons upward from the substrate, operation simulations confirmed that this configuration realizes lateral light emission in narrow regions above, below, left, and right in the optical polymer film, despite the absence of a light confinement structure such as an optical waveguide. This device can be fabricated using silica-coated colloidal quantum dots, focused ion beam (FIB) lithography, and wet etching using an oxide layer on a silicon substrate as a sacrificial layer. The device has a large tolerance to the variation in the position of the SRR in the optical polymer film and the height of the air-bridge. We confirmed that Pt-SRRs can be formed on the optical polymer film using FIB lithography. This simple lateral photon emitter is suitable for coupling with optical fibers and for fabricating planar optical quantum solid-state circuits, and is useful for the development of quantum information processing technology.