Atomic Force Microscope for Research on Ultra Low Threshold Exciton and Polariton Lasers in van der Waals Heterostructures
Abstract
We propose to acquire the hardware for assembling an Atomic Force Microscope system for understanding the mechanisms of ultra-low threshold lasing in van der Waals heterostructures. Van der Waals heterostructures have emerged as a new platform, where super-lattices can be created with a period of a few to a few tens of nanometers Ð the same length scale as electronic interactions in solids. This opens the opportunity to create and engineer arrays of nano-confinement potentials of elementary electronic excitations; at the same time it calls for tools and experimental methods to investigate the properties of the system at the correspondingly length scales. The proposed instrument will enable such new research capabilities on nano-photonics at the University of Michigan. The microscope system will be integrated with existing measurement systems to enable measurements with spatial resolutions of a few to a few tens nanometers. It will thereby expand the scope of ongoing DoD funded research programs to enable spatially resolved studies of fundamental properties of the nano-confined emitter arrays, and will enable correlating the microscopic structure with the macroscopic optical and opto-electronic properties, laying the ground for discovering and controlling novel photonic phenomena and device concepts based on nano-emitter arrays. The above research capability and effort are of significant interest to DoD for a variety of defense-related applications, including new types of lasers, optical switches, and quantum light sources that may have ultra-low energy input and ultra-compact footprint, for efficient and ultrafast communication. The proposed instrument will allow training of graduate and undergraduate students on cutting-edge experimental skills via innovative, materials and quantum photonics research.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 02, 2022
- Source ID
- W911NF2210133
Entities
People
- Hui Deng
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Michigan