Fast optically controlled spin initialization of a quantum dot in the Voigt geometry coupled to a transition metal dichalcogenide monolayer

We analyze the problem of fast optical spin initialization for a quantum dot in the Voigt geometry by placing it near a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayer. We calculate the spontaneous emission rates of the quantum dot modified by the presence of the monolayer for different materials and use the obtained results in quantum dynamics calculations. We show that high levels of fidelity, significantly larger than in the case of the quantum dot in free-space, can be quickly obtained due to the anisotropy of the enhanced spontaneous decay rates of the quantum dot near the TMD monolayer. We use a continuous wave optical field and find the control amplitude which achieves acceptable fidelity levels in short times for different distances of the quantum dot from the TMD monolayer and for various layer materials. We also use state of the art numerical optimal control to find the time-dependent electric field which maximizes the final fidelity for the same short duration and various layer materials as in the previous case. A better fidelity is obtained with this method, while the resulting pulse is quite robust to positioning error of the quantum dot and to additive constant control error. •The fast spin initialization of a quantum dot in the Voigt geometry by placing it near a transition metal dichalcogenide monolayer is analyzed.•The results are obtained by combining quantum dynamics calculations with electromagnetic calculations.•Continuous wave optical fields and optimized pulsed optical fields are used.•High levels of fidelity can be quickly obtained.•The effects of the distance between the quantum dot and the monolayer and the material used in the monolayer are also analyzed.