Sensing single electrons with single molecules

We propose a new methodology for probing transport of just one electron, a process of great importance both in nature and in artificial devices. Our idea for locating a single electron is analogues to the conventional GPS where signals from several satellites are used to locate a macro object. Using fluorescent molecules as tiny sensors, it is possible to determine 3D displacement vector of an electron.     

XMCD of a single layer of single molecule magnets

A detailed report on the X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) investigation of monolayers of Mn12-based single molecule magnets (SMMs) deposited on gold Au(111) is presented. A semi-quantitative analysis of data is provided in order to extract chemical and magnetic information on Mn ions, by comparison with XMCD on bulk samples. This work points that XMCD is a key-tool for the characterization of SMMs-based nanostructured systems. XMCD surface sensitivity and element-specificity will play a fundamental role in the identification of good candidates for SMMs based devices.     

Force spectroscopy on single passive biomolecules and single biomolecular bonds

This article describes the recent development of the rapidly expanding field of single molecule force spectroscopy. As the advancement of this field was dictated by technical progress, a large part of this review is focussed on methodological aspects. Moreover, several instructive experiments will be presented. However, it is already impossible to cover the whole field in one review article. Experiments on stretching of single polymers, on force induced dissociation of single bonds, and on unfolding of multidomain proteins are covered whereas active molecules (molecular motors) will be excluded. The physical interpretation of the selected experiments is addressed. The connection between the experimental results and the underlying microscopic properties of the molecules and their respective bonds will be discussed. Especially kinetic effects are of high importance for the interpretation of these experiments.     

A single quark model for single pion photoproduction at threshold

Single pion photoproduction is studied in a single quark model in which a quark absorbs the photon and then emits the pion, propagating as a quark between the two interactions. Two different chiral bag models are used which allow for the coupling of the quarks to the pion. Surprisingly, the single quark model reproduces the results of phenomenological models and agrees with the experimental amplitudes to within 30% at threshold.     

Polarization-controlled single photons

Vacuum-stimulated Raman transitions are driven between two magnetic substates of a 87Rb atom strongly coupled to an optical cavity. A magnetic field lifts the degeneracy of these states, and the atom is alternately exposed to laser pulses of two different frequencies. This produces a stream of single photons with alternating circular polarization in a predetermined spatiotemporal mode. MHz repetition rates are possible as no recycling of the atom between photon generations is required. Photon indistinguishability is tested by time-resolved two-photon interference.     

Anisotropic emission in single crystal sputtering measurements on HCP single crystals

The ejection characteristics of single crystals of zinc, magnesium (hcp) and aluminum (fcc) were determined by bombarding various crystal surfaces with a beam of inert gas ions. The energy of the bombarding ions varied between 10 and 40 keV. The sputtered particles were collected on cooled, hemicylindrical metal collectors; with the help of an electron probe the thickness of the deposit was measured. Pronounced anisotropic emission was observed in all cases, although random emission comprises the major part of the total ejection. By comparing the 〈2023〉 ejection, which is produced by pure surface collisions, and the 〈1120〉 ejection, where focusing collisions are involved, we deduce that surface collisions are mainly responsible for the anisotropic emission. The width of both emission distributions increases linearly to the same extent in the temperature regime between 100 and 370 K. The agreement of the Mg 〈1120〉 ejection with the 〈110〉 ejection from an aluminum (111) single crystal is good and thus allows a comparison with the gold 〈110〉 ejection reported in the literature.

The assisted focusing ejection in 〈0001〉, which is very pronounced in zinc single crystals and strongly influences the 〈2023〉 ejection from the basal plane, does not show up in magnesium. No 〈111〉 ejection occurred in aluminum either. In both cases the weak repulsive potential of the low-Z atoms accounts for the lack of this preferential emission.     

Deutsch-jozsa algorithm using triggered single photons from a single quantum dot

We demonstrate a two-qubit Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm with single photons from a single InP quantum dot. The qubits are implemented via the spatial mode and the polarization of a single photon. Our photon source is operated both under continuous and pulsed excitation, the latter allowing deterministic quantum logic by generating photons on demand with a strong suppression of two-photon events. The computation reached a success probability of up to 79%. We also exploit the concept of decoherence-free subspaces that helps to make our experimental setup robust against sources of phase noise.     

Design of single polarization single mode dispersion compensating photonic crystal fiber

In this paper, we present a photonic crystal fiber based on hexagonal structure for improved negative dispersion as well as high birefringence in the telecom wavelength bands. It is demonstrated that it is possible to obtain negative dispersion coefficient of −712 ps/(nm km) and relative dispersion slope (RDS) perfectly match to that of single mode fiber (SMF) of about 0.0036 nm⁻¹ at the operating wavelength 1550 nm. The proposed fiber exhibits high birefringence of the order 2.11 × 10⁻² with nonlinear coefficient about 57.57 W⁻¹ km⁻¹ at 1550 nm. Moreover, it is confirmed that the designed fiber successfully operates as a single mode in the entire band of interest.     

Recent advances on single photon sources based on single colloidal nanocrystals

Single colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly exploited as triggered sources of single photons. This review reports on recent results on single photon sources (SPS) based on colloidal quantum dots, whose size, shape and optical properties can be finely tuned by wet chemistry approach. First, we address the optical properties of different colloidal nanocrystals, such as dots, rods and dot in rods and their use as single photon sources will be discussed. Then, we describe different techniques for isolation and positioning single QDs, a major issue for fabrication of single photon sources, and various approaches for the embedding single nanocrystals inside microcavities. The insertion of single colloidal QDs in quantum confined optical systems allows one to improve their overall optical properties and performances in terms of efficiency, directionality, life time, and polarization control. Finally, electrical pumping of colloidal nanocrystals light emitting devices and of NC-based single photon sources is reviewed.     

First-order photon interference of a single photon from a single quantum dot

Photon interference indicating wave-like nature of a single photon emitted from a single quantum dot is demonstrated. Photon state as a superposition of two orthogonal linear polarization modes is prepared inside a solid-state single photon source, which causes the first-order interference analogous to the Young’s double slit experiment. The lack of which-mode information is essential for observing the single photon interference.     

采用单个压电传感器的单模式兰姆波激发频率的选择

考虑了压电传感器(PZT)与板之间的耦合作用,从理论上研究了单个压电传感器激发时产生单模式兰姆波的频率调节方法,实验给出了模式选择在兰姆波结构健康监测中的应用. 在板材、板厚以及PZT尺寸一定的情况下,从理论上能够预测到作为频率函数的各兰姆波模式的幅值变化. 根据某特定兰姆波模式的幅值最大而其他模式幅值相对最小时所对应的频率,即可识别出该兰姆波模式优化的激发频率. 数值仿真验证了理论的有效性以及单模式兰姆波选择的可能性. 在不同的激发频率下,分别激发了优化的A0 模式,优化的S0模式以及共存的A0和S0模 关键词： 兰姆波 压电传感器 激发频率 结构健康监测     

Time evolving theory of the mechanics of single particles and single photons

We introduce space-time ensemble methods to formulate definitions of single particles and single photons as local abstractions of constant processes. We find the general form of the corresponding Stueckelberg Lagrangian for Riemannian and Newtonian spacetimes and supply a physical interpretation for the worldline parameter. We develop the corresponding mechanical theories over the extended configuration space and the extended phase space. We suppose that the background can be represented by an external field and we study several general examples. Certain phenomenological forms do not describe particles, others do not seem to describe theories in which the representation of the background is process independent (Riemannian case). At the canonical level the elimination of second-class constraints associated with null processes generates restrictions on the domain of definition of photon coordinates which correspond to the absence of zero energies. The requirement that the canonical process-anti-process classification exist leads to a factorization condition on the extended phase space which is satisfied for all the cases studied in which the configuration formalisms entail no difficulties, except one, which is the minimally coupled external vector field case over Riemannian space-times. We discuss the observation theoretical significance of our results.     

Ion crystal transducer for strong coupling between single ions and single photons

A new approach for the realization of a quantum interface between single photons and single ions in an ion crystal is proposed and analyzed. In our approach the coupling between a single photon and a single ion is enhanced via the collective degrees of freedom of the ion crystal. Applications including single-photon generation, a memory for a quantum repeater, and a deterministic photon-photon, photon-phonon, or photon-ion entangler are discussed.     

Optics with single nanowires

Semiconducting nanowire heterostructures represent a new class of nanostructures that offer unprecedented freedom in material design. The position, diameter, composition and doping can be controlled with precision and complex structures such as core-shell and branched wires have already been demonstrated. Here we show that heterostructures in nanowires can define quantum emitters and that single spins can be addressed optically. We also present results on electrically contacted nanowires. The operation of single nanowires as light emitting diode or photodetector is demonstrated. To cite this article: V. Zwiller et al., C. R. Physique 9 (2008).     

Interference of single photons

The observed interference of single photons is explained without contradiction with the indivisibility principle.     

Dark states of single nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond unraveled by single shot NMR

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond is supposed to be a building block for quantum computing and nanometer-scale metrology at ambient conditions. Therefore, precise knowledge of its quantum states is crucial. Here, we experimentally show that under usual operating conditions the NV exists in an equilibrium of two charge states [70% in the expected negative (NV-) and 30% in the neutral one (NV0)]. Projective quantum nondemolition measurement of the nitrogen nuclear spin enables the detection even of the additional, optically inactive state. The nuclear spin can be coherently driven also in NV0 (T1≈90 ms and T2≈6 μs).     

Common luminescence intensity fluctuations of single particle and single molecules in non-conducing matrices

Optical spectroscopy in combination with wide field or confocal optical microscopy enables the investigation of single quantum objects such as organic molecules, II/VI semiconductor quantum dots and silicon nanocrystals. They all have fluctuations of luminescence intensities on time scales longer than μs in common. A comparison reveals that despite the large differences of the nature of the respective quantum objects, the intensity fluctuations are related to a slow ionisation process followed by a trapping of the photoejected charge in the non-conducing environment. Detailed aspects of the dynamics are controlled by the dielectric properties of the matrix.     

Time-resolved luminescent spectroscopy of YAG:Ce single crystal and single crystalline films

The peculiarities of the luminescence and energy transfer from YAG host to the emission centers formed by the Y_Al antisite defects and Ce³⁺ ions have been studied in YAG:Ce single crystals, grown from the melt by modified Bridgman method in Ar and CO₂ + H₂ atmospheres, and YAG:Ce single crystalline film, grown by liquid phase epitaxy method, using the comparative time-resolved luminescent spectroscopy under excitation by synchrotron radiation in the range of fundamental adsorption of this garnet.     

单晶合金激光熔凝过程中晶向对单晶完整性的影响

运用几何模型对单晶合金激光熔凝过程中激光扫描方向与[100]方向夹角ξ变化时熔池内的枝晶生长方向和速度进行了计算,研究了ξ增大时不同晶向区域的分布变化规律.发现随着ξ的增大, 0]区域增大,[010]区域减小,且熔池两边不同部分速度差别增强.根据速度变化规律,构造出了熔池不同部位的过冷区域变化图,说明了可能出现新晶粒的趋势变化,并与实验结果进行了比较,揭示了在晶向不同的交界区域产生新晶粒的内在机理. 关键词： 单晶合金 激光熔凝 晶向 组成过冷