Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics Paul Koenraad, Andrea Fiore, Erik Bakkers & Jaime Gomez-Rivas COBRA Inter-University Research Institute on Communication Technology
PSN group
Where do you find semiconductors?
Why are semiconductors important? Most energy efficient illumination sources Most efficient photovoltaic material Basic material for electronics industry Basic material for Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
PSN RESEARCH Goal: Achieve ultimate control in the structural, thermal, mechanical, electrical and photonic properties of semiconductor nanostructures Physics of semiconductor nano-objects (3D/2D/1D/0D) Individual nanostructures and doping atoms Utilize quantum effects in nano-objects Single photons/single electrons/single spins
Knowledge Chain Growth Characterization Physics Utilization Devices
GaAs substrate AlAs GaAs Be doped AlAs GaAs Si doped AlAs GaAs AlAs How do we make semiconductors Nanometer sized in all 3 directions and controlled incorporation of doping atoms
Growth Research 500 nm * 500 nm Self-assembled InAs quantum dots on GaAs Atomic Force Microscopy image Different semiconductor materials: IV: Si, Ge III-V: GaAs, InP, etc. II-VI: ZnO, CdSe, etc. Semiconductor nanowires
Characterization of Nanostructures Scanning Tunneling Microscopy image Atom Probe Tomography image Indium atoms Gallium atoms
Characterization of semiconductors N <10 15 cm -3 N cm -3 nm
Photonic devices: single-photons Quantum dots emit single photons: 10 nm Jin,... Fiore, Nature Nano Pagliano,..., Fiore, Nature Comm Applications: Quantum information processing Fundamental science: How light is born Example: Ultrafast control of spontaneous emission Nano-opto-electro- mechanical systems
Photonic devices: many photons Plasmonic LEDs and lasersNanowire solar cells
Example internship project Jeroen Schouwenberg, 2012: Modeling and design of photonic crystal filters PSN interns participate to real research projects Milo Swinkels (Master internship 2014): Ultrafast control of cavity QED Tommy Barten (Master internship 2014): Nanowire absorption
What can you do? Nanowire Growth (Erik Bakkers) Nanowire Devices(Erik Bakkers) Characterization (Paul Koenraad) Single Impurities (Paul Koenraad) Optical spectroscopy (Paul Koenraad) Plasmonics(Jaime Gomez-Rivas) THz physics(Jaime Gomez-Rivas) Single Photons (Andrea Fiore) Quantum Optics(Andrea Fiore) Photonic Devices (Andrea Fiore) Come and visit us, you are most welcome !