Single-photon transistors based on the interaction of an emitter and surface plasmons

Abstract

A symmetrical approach is suggested (Chang DE et al. Nat Phys 3:807, 2007) to realize a single-photon transistor, where the presence (or absence) of a single incident photon in a `gate' field is sufficient to allow (prevent) the propagation of a subsequent `signal' photon along the nanowire, on condition that the `gate' field is symmetrically incident from both sides of an emitter simultaneously. We present a scheme for single-photon transistors based on the strong emitter-surface-plasmon interaction. In this scheme, coherent absorption of an incoming `gate' photon incident along a nanotip by an emitter located near the tip of the nanotip results in a state flip in the emitter, which controls the subsequent propagation of a `signal' photon in a nanowire perpendicular to the axis of the nanotip.