Ultra-small mode area V-groove waveguide design for on-chip single-photon emission

Opt Express. 2024 Jan 15;32(2):2884-2893. doi: 10.1364/OE.515904.

Abstract

We numerically investigate the figures of merit for single-photon emission in a planar GaAs-on-insulator waveguide featuring a V-groove geometry. Thanks to a field enhancement effect arising due to boundary conditions of this waveguide, the structure features an ultra-small mode area enabling a factor of a maximum 2.8 times enhancement of the Purcell factor for quantum dot and a more significant 7 times enhancement for the atomic-size solid-state emitters with the aligned dipole orientation. In addition, the coupling efficiency to the fundamental quasi-TE mode is also improved. To take into account potential on-chip integration, we further show that the V-groove mode profile can be converted using a tapering section to the mode profile of a standard ridge waveguide while maintaining both the high Purcell factor and the good fundamental mode coupling efficiency.