Optoelectronics

Abstract

Capability to precisely generate, transport, and process electronic coherences (including entanglement) can simultaneously revolutionize diverse applications ranging from quantum-information processing and ultrahigh-speed petahertz (PHz) electronics to ultraviolet (UV) light sources. We propose to open the field of coherent PHz quantum optoelectronics by designing gallium-nitride based semiconductor nanostructures. Our team will precisely control electronic coherences in the nanostructures with a set of extremely strong, .nonresonant, few-cycle light pulses to avoid the onset of scattering and heating. We will combine high-harmonic and harmonic-sidehand generation techniques to leverage on our earlier dynamic Bloch oscillation, coherent electron collision and interference demonstrations. However all prior work has focused on extended semiconductors to enhance the harmonic signal. This focus severely limits coherent transport because whenever an electron tries to escape a unit cell of a lattice-periodic system, Bloch oscillations reflect it back to where it came from. Our concept will introduce true light wave electronics because nanostructure interfaces terminate the Bloch oscillations, realizing coherent transport of electrons over mesoscopic distances as well as a superior control of the related UV emission. To accomplish all this, our team will employ a comprehensive research cycle where our first-principles quantum many-body theory, deterministic nanostructure growth, and high-precision measurements mutually feed, verify, and challenge one another.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Feb 14, 2019
Source ID
W911NF1810299

Entities

People

  • Mackillo Kira

Organizations

  • Army Contracting Command
  • United States Army
  • University of Michigan

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Quantum Computing