The availability of efficient photon sources with specific properties is important for quantum-technological applications. However, the realization of such photon sources is often challenging and hence alternative perspectives that suggest different means to enhance desired properties while suppressing detrimental processes are valuable. In this work we highlight that ab initio simulations of coupled light-matter systems can provide such alternative avenues. We show for a simple model of a quantum ring that by treating light and matter on equal footing, we can create and enhance pathways for down-conversion processes. By changing the matter subsystem as well as the photonic environment in experimentally feasible ways, we can engineer hybrid light-matter states that enhance at the same time the efficiency of the down-conversion process and the nonclassicality of the created photons. Furthermore, we show that this also leads to a faster down-conversion, potentially avoiding detrimental decoherence effects.

• Received 11 March 2021
• Accepted 1 July 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.033067

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI. Open access publication funded by the Max Planck Society.

Published by the American Physical Society