New quantum dots herald a new era of electronics operating on a single-atom level
New types of solotronic structures, including the world's first quantum dots containing single cobalt ions, have been created and studied at the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw. The materials and elements used to form these structures allow us forecast new trends in solotronics – a field of experimental electronics and spintronics of the future, based on operations occurring on a single-atom level.
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| New quantum dots herald a new era of electronics operating on a single-atom level |
The results, the Warsaw physicists have just published in Nature Communications, pave the way for developing the field of solotronics.
"Quantum dots are semiconductor crystals on a nanometer scale. They are so tiny that the electrons within them exist only in states with specific energies. As such, quantum dots exhibit similar characteristics to atoms, and – just like atoms – they can be stimulated with light to reach higher energy levels. Conversely, this means they emit light as they return to states with lower energy levels," says Prof. Piotr Kossacki (FUW).
The University laboratory creates quantum dots using molecular beam epitaxy. The process involves precision-heating crucibles containing elements placed in a vacuum chamber. Beams of elements are deposited on the sample. By carefully selecting materials and experimental conditions, the atoms assemble into tiny islands, known as quantum dots. The process is similar to how water vapor condenses on a hydrophobic surface.
While the dots settle, a small quantity of other atoms (for example magnetic ones) can be introduced into the vacuum chamber, with some becoming a part of the emerging dots. Once the sample is removed, it can be examined under a microscope to detect quantum dots containing a single magnetic atom at the center.
"Atoms with magnetic properties disrupt the energy levels of electrons in a quantum dot, which affects how they interact with light. As a result, the quantum dot becomes a detector of such an atom's state. The relationship also works the other way: by changing energy states of electrons in quantum dots, we can affect the respective magnetic atoms," explains Michał Papaj, a student at the UW Faculty of Physics, awarded the Gold Medal in Chemistry during last year's national competition for the best B.Sc. thesis held by the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences for his work on quantum dots containing single cobalt ions.
The most powerful magnetic properties are observed in manganese atoms stripped of two electrons (Mn2+). In experiments conducted thus far, the ions have been mounted in quantum dots made of cadmium telluride (CdTe) or indium arsenide (InAs). Using CdTe dots prepared by Dr. Piotr Wojnar at the PAS Institute of Physics, in 2009 Mateusz Goryca from the University of Warsaw demonstrated the first magnetic memory operating on a single magnetic ion.
"It was commonly believed that other magnetic ions, such as cobalt (Co2+), cannot be used in quantum dots. We decided to verify this, and nature gave us a pleasant surprise: the presence of a new magnetic ion turned out not to destroy the properties of the quantum dot," says Jakub Kobak, doctoral student at the University of Warsaw.
Researchers from the University of Warsaw have presented two new systems with single magnetic ions: CdTe quantum dots with a cobalt atom, and cadmium selenide (CdSe) dots with a manganese atom.
As already stated, manganese atoms exhibit the most powerful magnetic properties. Unfortunately, they are caused by the atomic nucleus as well as the electrons, which means that quantum dots containing manganese ions are complex quantum systems. The discovery made by physicists at the University of Warsaw demonstrates that other magnetic elements – such as chromium, iron and nickel – can be used in place of manganese. These elements do not have nuclear spin, which should make quantum dots that contain them easier to manipulate.
In quantum dots where tellurium is replaced by the lighter selenium, researchers observed that the duration for which information was remembered increased by an order of magnitude. This finding suggests that using lighter elements should prolong the time quantum dots containing single magnetic ions store information, perhaps even by several orders of magnitude.
"We have demonstrated that two quantum systems that were believed not to be viable in fact worked very effectively. This opens up a broad field in our search for other, previously rejected combinations of materials for quantum dots and magnetic ions," concludes Dr. Wojciech Pacuski (FUW).
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The research into quantum dots containing single magnetic ions was funded with grants from the Polish National Science Centre and the Polish National Centre for Research and Development, as well as project funds from the Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology.
Physics and Astronomy were first taught at the University of Warsaw (UW) in 1816, at what was then the Faculty of Philosophy. The UW Astronomical Observatory was founded in 1825. Currently, the UW Faculty of Physics consists of the Institute of Experimental Physics, the Institute of Theoretical Physics, the Institute of Geophysics, the Faculty of Mathematical Methods, and the Astronomical Observatory. Research is conducted into most fields of modern physics, on scales ranging from the quantum to the cosmological. The UW Faculty of Physics has over 200 research and teaching staff, including 80 with the title of professor. The Faculty is attended by approx. 1,000 undergraduates and more than 140 doctoral students.
SCIENTIFIC PAPERS:
"Designing quantum dots for solotronics"; J. Kobak, T. Smoleński, M. Goryca, M. Papaj, K. Gietka, A. Bogucki, M. Koperski, J.-G. Rousset, J. Suffczyński, E. Janik, M. Nawrocki, A. Golnik, P. Kossacki & W. Pacuski; Nature Communications5:3191, 27 January 2014; DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4191
CONTACTS:
Prof. Piotr Kossacki
The Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw
tel. +48 22 5532217, +48 22 5503232
email: piotr.kossacki@fuw.edu.pl
Dr Wojciech Pacuski
The Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw
tel. +48 22 5532217, +48 22 5532329
email: wojciech.pacuski@fuw.edu.pl
LINKS:
http://www.fuw.edu.pl/
Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw website.
http://www.fuw.edu.pl/informacje-prasowe.html
Press Office for the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw.
IMAGES:
FUW140127b_fot01s.jpg
HR: http://www.fuw.edu.pl/press/images/2014/FUW140127b_fot01.jpg
A cross-section of the quantum dots developed, constructed and tested by the Institute of Experimental Physics at the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw. The color red marks an ion (cobalt or manganese) with magnetic properties (symbolized by the arrow). Yellow represents a quantum dot (cadmium telluride or indium arsenide, respectively). Blue shows the semiconductor layer securing the quantum dot. (Source: Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw)
FUW140127b_fot02s.jpg
HR: http://www.fuw.edu.pl/press/images/2014/FUW140127b_fot02.jpg
Researchers from the Institute of Experimental Physics at the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw have developed, constructed and tested groundbreaking new quantum dots containing single cobalt ions. Here Wojciech Pacuski, PhD, is shown with the molecular beam epitaxy device used to construct the quantum dots. (Source: Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw)
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