Highly efficient coupling of single photons using a pair of nanostructures

We numerically report highly efficient coupling of single photons from a single dipole source (SDS) using a pair of nanostructures. The maximum coupling efficiency ( \(\eta _{p}\) ${\eta }_p$ ) of 56%, into guided modes of a silica nanotip (SNT), is found when the SNT of radius 0.43 μm is placed in the vicinity of a diamond nanotip (DNT) and a diamond nanowire (DNW). Additionally, we found that varying the radius of the DNT/DNW does not significantly affect the \(\eta _{p}\) ${\eta }_p$ -value. Furthermore, we investigate the coupling efficiency ( \(\eta \) $\eta$ ) of single photons from the SDS into guided modes of the DNT. The maximum \(\eta \) $\eta$ -value of 87% is found when the radially oriented SDS is positioned on the facet of the DNT of radius 0.4 μm. We found that the \(\eta _{p}\) ${\eta }_p$ -value is enhanced when the DNT is placed in the vicinity of another DNT and the DNW. The present platform may open new possibilities in quantum networks.