Nonlinear tuning of 3D photonic band-gap structures for single-photon on demand sources

We describe a practical implementation of a semi-deterministic photon gun based on the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage pumping and the nonlinear tuning of the photonic density of states in a photonic band-gap material. We show that this device allows deterministic and unidirectional production of single photons with a high repetition rate of the order of 100 kHz. We also discuss specific 3D photonic microstructure architectures in which our model can be realized and the feasibility of implementing such a device using Er3+ ions that produce single photons at the telecommunication wavelength of 1.55 mu m. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.