Probing the interaction between a single quantum dot and a photonic crystal cavity

This article reviews our recent work on the development of nanophotonic devices for quantum information processing. We have developed a temperature tuning technique, that allows us to independently tune photonic crystal cavities and quantum dots on the same chip. The high quality factor to mode volume ratio of such cavities leads to a strong interaction between the cavity and the quantum dot. The cavity modifies the quantum dot lifetime, which, in turn, modifies the transmission properties of the cavity. We observe that the resonant nonlinearity of the quantum dot is greatly enhanced by the recirculation of light, and leads to a giant optical nonlinearity, where single photons are able to saturate the quantum dot and modify the transmission function of the cavity. Along with these results, we review the experimental developments, which have led to the realization of the experiment