Shuo Sun

Quantum Optics with Artificial Atoms

Abstract: The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots, often referred to as “artificial atoms”, due to their discrete electronic energy levels resembling those of natural atoms. Since their discovery, quantum dots have been widely utilized in bioimaging, energy harvesting, illumination, displays, machine vision, and communications. Recently, significant progress has been made in creating single artificial atoms with excellent quantum coherence properties, enabling the development of quantum devices based on these artificial atoms.

In this talk, I will discuss several ongoing experiments in my group that showcase the unique advantages of solid-state artificial atoms in studying quantum optics and advancing quantum technologies. A key feature of solid-state artificial atoms is their compatibility with various devices (e.g., photonic, acoustic, electronic) defined on their host material. This compatibility allows us to experimentally investigate the resonance fluorescence of a strongly driven atom in novel regimes, where the atom is simultaneously influenced by both longitudinal (σ_z-driven) and transverse (σ_x-driven) fields. Remarkably, our observations reveal distinct features in the resonance fluorescence spectrum as we modulate the Rabi frequency of the σ_x drive across the frequency of the σ_z drive field, including the cancellation of the central spontaneous spectral line and the anti-crossing of different sidebands. The experimental results align well with our theoretical calculations and can be effectively explained using a dynamically-dressed-state framework. Additionally, I will discuss another ongoing experiment that leverages strong light-matter interactions in a quantum nanophotonic device to develop a deterministic source of photonic graph states. These photonic graph states are crucial resources in optical quantum computing and all-photonic quantum repeaters. I will discuss our experimental progresses, as well as our theory proposal for generating loss-tolerant photonic graph states using only a single quantum dot.

Moving forward, solid-state artificial atoms also offer tremendous opportunities for studying quantum many-body physics. I will discuss some of these opportunities at the end of my talk, including the study of photon-mediated many-body interactions defined by a structured photonic bath, and electron-spin mediated interactions among a bath of nuclear spins.

Bio: Shuo Sun is an Assistant Professor of Physics and an Associate Fellow of JILA at the University of Colorado Boulder. Before joining the University of Colorado Boulder in Fall 2020, he worked at Stanford University as a postdoctoral fellow and later as a research scientist in the Ginzton Lab. Sun received his B.S. in Zhejiang University (2011), and his M.S. (2015) and Ph.D. (2016) from the University of Maryland College Park. Sun is a recipient of the NSF CAREER award (2024), Sloan Research Fellowship (2022), and the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award (2021).

All lectures held in CTLM102 unless otherwise specified

Pre-seminar snacks will be offered in CoorsTek 140 from 3:30pm-4:00pm.