” Our research reveals that it is possible for a monolayer semiconductor to emit circularly polarized light without the assistance of an external magnetic field,” stated Han Htoon, researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory. “This result has actually just been achieved before with high magnetic fields created by bulky superconducting magnets, by coupling quantum emitters to very complex nanoscale photonics structures or by injecting spin-polarized carriers into quantum emitters. Our proximity-effect method has the benefit of low-cost fabrication and reliability.”
The polarization state is a means of encoding the photon, so this accomplishment is a crucial step in the instructions of quantum cryptography or quantum communication.
” With a source to produce a stream of single photons and also introduce polarization, we have actually essentially combined two gadgets in one,” Htoon stated.
Formed within wells caved in into the stack of two various layered products, a monolayer semiconductor and an anti-ferromagnetic crystal, the chiral quantum light emissions rise out of the product and might be utilized for quantum info and communication applications. Credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Imprint Key to Photoluminescence
As explained in a paper released in the journal Nature Materials, the research study group worked at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies to stack a single-molecule-thick layer of tungsten diselenide semiconductor onto a thicker layer of nickel phosphorus trisulfide magnetic semiconductor. Xiangzhi Li, postdoctoral research study partner, utilized atomic force microscopy to create a series of nanometer-scale imprints on the thin stack of products. The imprints are around 400 nanometers in size, so over 200 of such indents can quickly be fit throughout the width of a human hair.
When a laser was focused on the stack of materials, the imprints produced by the atomic microscopy tool proved helpful for two impacts. The indentation forms a well, or anxiety, in the prospective energy landscape. Electrons of the tungsten diselenide monolayer fall into the depression. That stimulates the emission of a stream of single photons from the well.
That magnetic minute circularly polarizes the photons being emitted. To supply speculative confirmation of this system, the team first carried out high magnetic field optical spectroscopy experiments in partnership with National High Magnetic Field Laboratorys Pulsed Field Facility at Los Alamos.
The experiments proved that the group had successfully demonstrated a novel approach to manage the polarization state of a single photon stream.
Encoding Quantum Information
The team is presently exploring methods to modulate the degree of circular polarization of the single photons with the application of electrical or microwave stimuli. That ability would use a method to encode quantum info into the photon stream.
Additional coupling of the photon stream into waveguides– microscopic conduits of light– would provide the photonic circuits that permit the proliferation of photons in one direction. Such circuits would be the basic foundation of an ultra-secure quantum internet.
Referral: “Proximity-induced chiral quantum light generation in strain-engineered WSe2/NiPS3 heterostructures” by Xiangzhi Li, Andrew C. Jones, Junho Choi, Huan Zhao, Vigneshwaran Chandrasekaran, Michael T. Pettes, Andrei Piryatinski, Märta A. Tschudin, Patrick Reiser, David A. Broadway, Patrick Maletinsky, Nikolai Sinitsyn, Scott A. Crooker and Han Htoon, 17 August 2023, Nature Materials.DOI: 10.1038/ s41563-023-01645-7.
Financing: Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program at Los Alamos National Laboratory; the U.S. Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences, QIS Infrastructure Development Program; and the Quantum Science Center, a nationwide QIS Research Center supported by the DOE Office of Science.
Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers developed a brand-new method for producing circularly polarized single photons, paving the way for advancements in quantum communication and a potential ultra-secure quantum web. Credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory
New approach is an action toward utilizing single photons in quantum communication and info processing.
Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have actually developed an unique technique to produce a stream of circularly polarized single photons, vital for quantum details and interaction. Utilizing atomically thin materials, theyve shown that a monolayer semiconductor can produce circularly polarized light without an external magnetic field. The research team made use of nanometer-scale imprints to achieve this, leading to a vital action towards quantum cryptography, interaction, and the capacity for a hyper-secure quantum internet.
Revolutionary Quantum Light Emitters
A group of researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory group stacked 2 different atomically thin materials to understand a chiral quantum light source. This new method to quantum light emitters generates a stream of circularly polarized single photons, or particles of light, that might work for a variety of quantum information and communication applications.
Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have actually established a novel strategy to produce a stream of circularly polarized single photons, vital for quantum info and communication. The research study group utilized nanometer-scale indentations to attain this, resulting in an essential step towards quantum cryptography, communication, and the potential for a hyper-secure quantum internet.
“This impact has only been attained before with high magnetic fields developed by large superconducting magnets, by coupling quantum emitters to extremely intricate nanoscale photonics structures or by injecting spin-polarized carriers into quantum emitters. That magnetic minute circularly polarizes the photons being emitted. To supply experimental verification of this mechanism, the group initially performed high magnetic field optical spectroscopy experiments in partnership with National High Magnetic Field Laboratorys Pulsed Field Facility at Los Alamos.