A new quantum technology creates a nanowire system to produce monochromatic photons
The University of Barcelona participated in an international research which has developed a new quantum structure able to emit monochromatic single-photons. The discovery, published on the latest edition of the journal Nature Materials, is based on quantum confinement generated in every quantum dot which allows to modulate the light emitted. The professor of the UB Joan Ramon Morante, from the Department of Electronics, collaborated in the study; he is also member of the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, affiliated centre with the University of Barcelona.
The University of Barcelona participated in an international research which has developed a new quantum structure able to emit monochromatic single-photons. The discovery, published on the latest edition of the journal Nature Materials, is based on quantum confinement generated in every quantum dot which allows to modulate the light emitted. The professor of the UB Joan Ramon Morante, from the Department of Electronics, collaborated in the study; he is also member of the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, affiliated centre with the University of Barcelona.
The study proves the functionality and usefulness of introducing quantum dots (tiny particles of a semi-conductor material which emit a really pure and monochromatic light) in nanowires, which are the structures considered the technological basis for building new devices based in quantum photonics. The intensity of the light emitted by quantum dots is higher than the one produced by other similar systems.
These systems could be used in advanced energy applications; to be exact, these quantum dots could become building blocks for solid-state lighting devices and third-generation solar cells.
The final result is one-dimensional nanowires, compatible with current electronic technology, which will create devices to get a total control of the emission of light, photon by photon. It will also be a great advance in quantum information thanks to its narrow line widths and high yields.
M. Heiss, Y. Fontana, A. Gustafsson, G. Wüst, C. Magen, D. D. OʼRegan, J. W. Luo, B. Ketterer, S. Conesa-Boj, A. V. Kuhlmann, J. Houel, E. Russo-Averchi, J. R. Morante, M. Cantoni, N. Marzari, J. Arbiol, A. Zunger, R. J. Warburton and A. Fontcuberta i Morral. "Self-assembled quantum dots in a nanowire system for quantum photonics". Nature Materials. DOI: 10.1038/nmat3557