Investigamos as propriedades quânticas dos feixes de luz produzidos pelo oscilador paramétrico ótico (OPO) acima do limiar, tanto experimental quanto teoricamente. Apresentamos a primeira medida de emaranhamento entre os feixes gêmeos, sinal e complementar. Estes podem possuir frequências óticas muito distintas, correspondentes a centenas de nanometros em comprimento de onda. O emaranhamento entre duas cores possibilita transferir informação quântica entre diferentes regiões do espectro eletromagnético. A demonstração experimental do emaranhamento foi realizada mostrando que a soma de variâncias de observáveis tipo EPR dos campos, a subtração de intensidades e a soma das fases dos feixes, viola uma desigualdade que deve ser necessariamente satisfeita por todos os estados separáveis. Mostramos a presença de squeezing em ambos os observáveis, com os respectivos valores $\\Delta^2 p_- = 0,49(1)$ e $\\Delta^2 q_+ = 0,65(1)$ relativos ao ruído quântico padrão. A desigualdade violada resultou $\\Delta^2 p_- +\\Delta^2 q_+ = 1,14(2)< 2$. Isso solucionou um problema aberto desde 1988, quando se previu teoricamente pela primeira vez a existência desse emaranhamento. Mostramos teoricamente que as correlações quânticas se estendem ao feixe de bombeio refletido pelo OPO, culminando no emaranhamento entre os três feixes envolvidos no processo paramétrico. Tem-se, assim, a geração direta de emaranhamento tripartite entre três regiões muito distintas do espectro. O emaranhamento multicolor amplia ainda mais as possibilidades de conversão da cor da informação quântica, com aplicações em redes quânticas. As diversas melhorias que realizamos em nosso sistema durante a busca pelo emaranhamento bipartite trouxeram uma compreensão mais profunda sobre a física de seu funcionamento, além de tornar nosso OPO uma fonte estável de feixes de luz coerente emaranhados. Este trabalho vem incluir o OPO acima do limiar no ferramental da área de informação quântica com variáveis contínuas. Esperamos em breve aplicações muito interessantes desse sistema. / We investigate the quantum properties of the light beams produced by an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) above threshold, both experimentally and theoretically. We present the first measurement of entanglement between the bright twin beams, signal and idler. These may differ in wavelength by hundreds of nanometers, showing different \'colors\'. This special characteristic allows for the transfer of quantum information between different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Entanglement was experimentally demonstrated by showing that the sum of variances of two EPR-like observables, the subtraction of the beams intensities and the sum of their phases, violates an inequality necessarily fulfilled by all separable states. We obtained squeezing in both observables, with the respective values $\\Delta^2 p_- = 0,49(1)$ and $\\Delta^2 q_+ = 0,65(1)$ relative to the shot noise level. The violated inequality resulted $\\Delta^2 p_- + \\Delta^2 q_+ = 1,14(2)< 2$. This solved an old problem, enunciated in 1988, when this effect was theoretically predicted for the first time. We show theoretically that the quantum correlations extend to the pump beam reflected by the OPO as well, culminating in entanglement among the three fields involved in the parametric process. Therefore, the OPO actually produces tripartite entanglement among very distant spectral regions in a direct manner. Multicolor entanglement opens new possibilities in the frequency conversion of quantum information. The improvements we performed in our system in order to achieve this result have brought a deeper understanding of the phenomena involved, as well as a more stable system operation, resulting in the development of a reliable source of bright entangled light beams. This work has finally added the above-threshold OPO to the optical quantum information toolbox. We expect new and exciting applications to come in the near future.

Investigamos as propriedades quânticas dos feixes de luz produzidos pelo oscilador paramétrico ótico (OPO) acima do limiar, tanto experimental quanto teoricamente. Apresentamos a primeira medida de emaranhamento entre os feixes gêmeos, sinal e complementar. Estes podem possuir frequências óticas muito distintas, correspondentes a centenas de nanometros em comprimento de onda. O emaranhamento entre duas cores possibilita transferir informação quântica entre diferentes regiões do espectro eletromagnético. A demonstração experimental do emaranhamento foi realizada mostrando que a soma de variâncias de observáveis tipo EPR dos campos, a subtração de intensidades e a soma das fases dos feixes, viola uma desigualdade que deve ser necessariamente satisfeita por todos os estados separáveis. Mostramos a presença de squeezing em ambos os observáveis, com os respectivos valores $\\Delta^2 p_- = 0,49(1)$ e $\\Delta^2 q_+ = 0,65(1)$ relativos ao ruído quântico padrão. A desigualdade violada resultou $\\Delta^2 p_- +\\Delta^2 q_+ = 1,14(2)< 2$. Isso solucionou um problema aberto desde 1988, quando se previu teoricamente pela primeira vez a existência desse emaranhamento. Mostramos teoricamente que as correlações quânticas se estendem ao feixe de bombeio refletido pelo OPO, culminando no emaranhamento entre os três feixes envolvidos no processo paramétrico. Tem-se, assim, a geração direta de emaranhamento tripartite entre três regiões muito distintas do espectro. O emaranhamento multicolor amplia ainda mais as possibilidades de conversão da cor da informação quântica, com aplicações em redes quânticas. As diversas melhorias que realizamos em nosso sistema durante a busca pelo emaranhamento bipartite trouxeram uma compreensão mais profunda sobre a física de seu funcionamento, além de tornar nosso OPO uma fonte estável de feixes de luz coerente emaranhados. Este trabalho vem incluir o OPO acima do limiar no ferramental da área de informação quântica com variáveis contínuas. Esperamos em breve aplicações muito interessantes desse sistema. / We investigate the quantum properties of the light beams produced by an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) above threshold, both experimentally and theoretically. We present the first measurement of entanglement between the bright twin beams, signal and idler. These may differ in wavelength by hundreds of nanometers, showing different \'colors\'. This special characteristic allows for the transfer of quantum information between different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Entanglement was experimentally demonstrated by showing that the sum of variances of two EPR-like observables, the subtraction of the beams intensities and the sum of their phases, violates an inequality necessarily fulfilled by all separable states. We obtained squeezing in both observables, with the respective values $\\Delta^2 p_- = 0,49(1)$ and $\\Delta^2 q_+ = 0,65(1)$ relative to the shot noise level. The violated inequality resulted $\\Delta^2 p_- + \\Delta^2 q_+ = 1,14(2)< 2$. This solved an old problem, enunciated in 1988, when this effect was theoretically predicted for the first time. We show theoretically that the quantum correlations extend to the pump beam reflected by the OPO as well, culminating in entanglement among the three fields involved in the parametric process. Therefore, the OPO actually produces tripartite entanglement among very distant spectral regions in a direct manner. Multicolor entanglement opens new possibilities in the frequency conversion of quantum information. The improvements we performed in our system in order to achieve this result have brought a deeper understanding of the phenomena involved, as well as a more stable system operation, resulting in the development of a reliable source of bright entangled light beams. This work has finally added the above-threshold OPO to the optical quantum information toolbox. We expect new and exciting applications to come in the near future.

Cette thèse présente la réalisation d'une source de photons uniques basée sur une boîte quantique InAs intégrée dans un fil photonique. Un fil photonique est un guide d'onde monomode constitué d'un matériau de fort indice de réfraction (GaAs dans notre cas). Pour un diamètre optimal voisin de 200 nm, pratiquement toute l'émission spontanée de l'émetteur (longueur d'onde dans le vide 950 nm) est dirigée vers le mode guidé fondamental. Le couplage des photons guidés à un objectif de microscope est ensuite optimisé en travaillant la géométrie des extrémités du fil. Ce dernier repose ainsi sur un miroir intégré et présente une extrémité supérieure en forme de taper. Cette approche non résonante combine de très bonnes performances à une grande tolérance sur la longueur d'onde de l'émetteur intégré. Cette thèse discute la physique des fils photoniques, la réalisation des structures en salle blanche et les résultats obtenus lors de la caractérisation optique. En particulier, nous avons réalisé une source combinant une efficacité record (0.72, état de l'art à 0.4) et une émission de photons uniques très pure. Nous discutons également le contrôle de la polarisation obtenu dans des fils de section elliptique. / This thesis presents the realization of an efficient single-photon source based on an InAs quantum dot integrated in a photonic nanowire. A photonic nanowire is a monomode waveguide made of a high refractive index material (GaAs in our case). For an optimal wire diameter around 200 nm, nearly all the spontaneous emission of the embedded single-photon emitter (free space wavelength 950 nm) is funnelled into the fundamental guided mode. In addition, the outcoupling efficiency of the guided photon to a microscope objective can be brought close to one with a proper engineering of the wire ends. The source thus features an integrated bottom mirror and a smooth tapering of the wire upper end. High performances are maintained over a broad wavelength range, a key asset of this 1D photonic structure. This thesis presents the physics which governs these structures, their realization, and their characterization. Under pulsed optical pumping, we demonstrate a single-photon source with a record efficiency of 0.72, combined with highly pure single-photon emission. We also discuss the possibility to obtain polarization control, using wire with an elliptical section.

The 2-dimensional semiconductor family of materials called transition metal dichalcogenides (2d-TMDs) offers many technological advantages: low power consumption, atomically-precise interfaces, lack of nuclear spins and ease of functional integration with other 2d materials are just a few. In this work we harness the potential of these materials as a platform for quantum devices: develop a method by which we can deterministically create single-photon emitting sites in 2d-TMDs, in large-scale arrays. These we call quantum dots (QDs): quantum confinement potentials within semiconductor materials which can trap single-excitons. The single excitons recombine radiatively to emit single-photons. Single-photon sources are a crucial requirement for many quantum information technology (QIT) applications such as quantum cryptography and quantum communication. The QDs are formed by placing the flakes over substrates nano-patterned with protru- sions which induce local strain and provoke the quantum confinement of excitons at low temperatures. This method has been successfully tested in several TMD materials, hence achieving quantum light at different wavelengths. We present one of the very few systems where quantum confinement sites have been shown to be deterministically engineered in a scalable way. Moreover, we have demonstrated how the 2d-based QDs can be embedded within 2d- heterostructures to form functional quantum devices: we have used TMD monolayers along with other 2d-materials - graphene and hexagonal boron nitride - to create quan- tum light-emitting diodes that produce electrically-driven single-photons. Again, very few single-photon sources can be triggered electrically, and this provides a great ad- vantage when considering on-chip quantum technologies. Finally, we present experimental steps towards using our architecture as quantum bits: capturing single-spins inside the QDs, using field-effect type 2d-heterostructures. We are able to controllably charge the QDs with single-electrons and single-holes – a key breakthrough towards the use of spin and valley pseudospin of confined carriers in 2d-materials as a new kind of optically addressable matter qubit. This work presents the successful marriage of 2d-semiconductor technology with QIT, paving the way for 2-dimensional materials as platforms for scalable, on-chip quantum photonics.