Coherent Swing‐Up Excitation for Semiconductor Quantum Dots

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Developing coherent excitation methods for quantum emitters ensuring high brightness, optimal single‐photon purity and indistinguishability of the emitted photons has been a key challenge in the past years. While various methods have been proposed and explored, they all have specific advantages and disadvantages. This study investigates the dynamics of the recent swing‐up scheme as an excitation method for a two‐level system and its performance in single‐photon generation. By applying two far red‐detuned laser pulses, the two‐level system can be prepared in the excited state with near‐unity fidelity. The successful operation and coherent character of this technique are demonstrated using a semiconductor quantum dot (QD). Moreover, the multi‐dimensional parameter space of the two laser pulses is explored to analyze its impact on excitation fidelity. Finally, the performance of the scheme as an excitation method for generating high‐quality single photons is analyzed. The swing‐up scheme itself proves effective, exhibiting nearly perfect single‐photon purity, while the observed indistinguishability in the studied sample is limited by the influence of the inevitable high excitation powers on the semiconductor environment of the quantum dot.</jats:p>