Single quantum dot spectroscopy using a fiber taper waveguide near-field optic

Photoluminescence spectroscopy of single InAs quantum dots at cryogenic temperatures (~14 K) is performed using a micron-scale optical fiber taper waveguide as a near-field optic. A lower bound on the measured collection efficiency of quantum dot spontaneous emission into the fundamental guided mode of the fiber taper is estimated at 0.1%, and spatially resolved measurements with ~600 nm resolution are obtained by varying the taper position with respect to the sample and using the fiber taper for both the pump and collection channels.