A research group headed by Jiamin Quan has found a novel and unexpected quantum phenomenon that has widespread implications in quantum physics. They discovered a new family of spin-forbidden dark excitons, previously unseen, that can now be rendered visible and controllable. The collaborative team, composed of members from the City University of New York (CUNY) and the University of Texas at Austin, has published the results of their findings. They published their findings in Nature Photonics.
To accomplish this, consortium researchers designed a breakthrough nanoscale optical cavity. To do this, they fused together gold nanotubes with a single layer of tungsten diselenide (WSe₂). This remarkable material, only three atoms thick, was the secret sauce to the experiment. The design increased light emission from dark excitons by an unprecedented 300,000 fold. This discovery holds promise for significant strides in technology.
Andrea Alù, the principal investigator of the study, called this work impressive. He is an Einstein Professor of Physics at CUNY Graduate Center.
“This work shows that we can access and manipulate light-matter states that were previously out of reach,” – Andrea Alù
The implications of this research are profound. The Water team that has gone into formerly camouflaged and shrouded states and enhanced them in place. This new discovery has opened new avenues toward developing technologies that are faster, smaller and more energy efficient. These innovations have the potential to revolutionize optical and quantum technologies of the next generation. For example, they’ll be key in next-generation sensing and computing.
By making use of plasmonic heterostructures in their experiments, they were able to achieve a level of control over dark exciton states never seen before. It’s very easy to enable/disable these hidden states. This extraordinary capacity, combined with nanoscale resolution, creates stunning opportunities for innovation.
“Our study reveals a new family of spin-forbidden dark excitons that had never been observed before.”
The use of plasmonic heterostructures in their experiments allowed for unprecedented control over dark exciton states. This capability to turn these hidden states on and off at will, combined with nanoscale resolution, opens up exciting opportunities for disruptive advancements.