Surface Acoustic Wave Cavity Optomechanics with WSe$_2$ Single Photon Emitters (2211.15811v1)

Abstract: Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) are a versatile tool for coherently interfacing with a variety of solid-state quantum systems spanning microwave to optical frequencies, including superconducting qubits, spins, and quantum emitters. Here, we demonstrate SAW cavity optomechanics with quantum emitters in 2D materials, specifically monolayer WSe$_2$, on a planar lithium niobate SAW resonator driven by superconducting electronics. Using steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopy and time-resolved single-photon counting, we map the temporal dynamics of modulated 2D emitters under coupling to different SAW cavity modes, showing energy-level splitting consistent with deformation potential coupling of 30 meV/%. We leverage the large anisotropic strain from the SAW to modulate the excitonic fine-structure splitting on a nanosecond timescale, which may find applications for on-demand entangled photon-pair generation from 2D materials. Cavity optomechanics with SAWs and 2D quantum emitters provides opportunities for compact sensors and quantum electro-optomechanics in a multi-functional integrated platform that combines phononic, optical, and superconducting electronic quantum systems.