Abstract

Development of quantum processing (at the 1-photon per bit level) is dependent on high efficiency single photon sources, single photon non-linear gates and single photon generation. Recent experiments with atomic beams in extremely high finesse macroscopic cavities have seen non-linearity (intensity dependent phase shift) at the single photon level [1]. Similarly experminents with frozen dye solutions in microcavities have shown non-classical light generation when single molecules are excited by a pulsed source [2]. If the exciting pulse is short there is only time for one excitation-emission cycle per period and we obtain an efficient source of single photons. The efficiency of collection of this non-classical light will determine its usefulness for future quantum processors. In this work we would like to investigate the limits to this collection efficiency and possible routes to 100% efficient devices based on non-planar and/or textured cavities.

© 1996 IEEE