Single-photon sources are of great interest because of their potential use in quantum information schemes. Because of their discrete energy transition, quantum dots are considered to be ideal single-photon sources and understanding their properties is essential for their application in quantum information systems. The radiative properties of a single quantum dot can be strongly modified by embedding it in a micropillar cavity, which gives rise to cavity quantum electrodynamical (cQED) effects.
In this thesis, the cavity-quantum dot interaction is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. A quantum theory describing the light-matter interaction is set up, and all parameters in the model are experimentally measured, allowing for a complete comparison between experiment and theory. A very good agreement is found, verifying that the model captures the most influential features of the interaction.