Quantum Engineering Laboratory
Our group studies quantum dynamics in nanoscale materials and devices using optics and electronics. We seek to better understand complex quantum-mechanical systems, with a goal of developing new technologies for communication, computation, and sensing based on quantum physics.
News
- Congratulations, Mathieu!
Congratulations to Mathieu on defending his PhD thesis!
- Congratulations, Sarah!
Congratulations to Sarah on defending her PhD thesis!
- Congratulations, Becca!
Congratulations to Becca on defending her PhD thesis!
- Congratulations, Sarah!
Sarah has won the Haller Prize, awarded to the best graduate student at the 32nd International Conference on Defects in Semiconductors. “The Haller Prize is named after Eugene E. Haller who was a major figure in the semiconductor community and an inspiring mentor for students.” (http://icds2023.org/prizes)
- Welcome, Jeiko!
Jeiko Pujols has joined our group as a first-year PhD student in the ESE department.
Recent Publications
Bhatia, Pia; Shin, Trey T.; Kavetsky, Kyril; Sailors, Benjamin N.; Siokos, George; Uy-Tioco, Alexandra Sofia; Keneipp, Rachael N.; Gusdorff, Jordan A.; Lee C. Bassett, Marija Drndić a
In: Micron, vol. 189, 2024.
@article{Bhatia2024,
title = {A tale of two transfers: characterizing polydimethylsiloxane viscoelastic stamping and heated poly bis-A carbonate transfer of hexagonal boron nitride},
author = {Pia Bhatia and Trey T. Shin and Kyril Kavetsky and Benjamin N. Sailors and George Siokos and Alexandra Sofia Uy-Tioco and Rachael N. Keneipp and Jordan A. Gusdorff and Lee C. Bassett
,
Marija Drndić a},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0968432824001641#sec0080},
doi = {10.1016/j.micron.2024.103747},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-11-26},
journal = {Micron},
volume = {189},
abstract = {Two-dimensional (2D) materials have many applications ranging from heterostructure electronics to nanofluidics and quantum technology. In order to effectively utilize 2D materials towards these ends, they must be transferred and integrated into complex device geometries. In this report, we investigate two conventional methods for the transfer of 2D materials: viscoelastic stamping with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a heated transfer with poly bis-A carbonate (PC). We use both methods to transfer mechanically-exfoliated flakes of hexagonal boron nitride onto silicon nitride (SiNx) substrates and characterize the resulting transfers using atomic force microscopy (AFM), aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-STEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). We find that both transfer methods yield flakes with significant and comparable residue (within the limitations of our study on eight samples). Qualitative interpretation of EELS maps demonstrates that this residue is comprised of silicon, carbon and oxygen for both transfer methods. Quantitative analysis of AC-STEM images reveals that the area covered in residue is on average, slightly lower for PDMS transfers (31 % ± 1 %), compared to PC transfers (41 % ± 4 %). This work underscores the importance of improving existing transfer protocols towards applications where cleaner materials are critical, as well as the need for robust methods to clean 2D materials.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have many applications ranging from heterostructure electronics to nanofluidics and quantum technology. In order to effectively utilize 2D materials towards these ends, they must be transferred and integrated into complex device geometries. In this report, we investigate two conventional methods for the transfer of 2D materials: viscoelastic stamping with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a heated transfer with poly bis-A carbonate (PC). We use both methods to transfer mechanically-exfoliated flakes of hexagonal boron nitride onto silicon nitride (SiNx) substrates and characterize the resulting transfers using atomic force microscopy (AFM), aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-STEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). We find that both transfer methods yield flakes with significant and comparable residue (within the limitations of our study on eight samples). Qualitative interpretation of EELS maps demonstrates that this residue is comprised of silicon, carbon and oxygen for both transfer methods. Quantitative analysis of AC-STEM images reveals that the area covered in residue is on average, slightly lower for PDMS transfers (31 % ± 1 %), compared to PC transfers (41 % ± 4 %). This work underscores the importance of improving existing transfer protocols towards applications where cleaner materials are critical, as well as the need for robust methods to clean 2D materials.
Gusdorff, Jordan A.; Bhatia, Pia; Shin, Trey T.; Uy-Tioco, Alexandra Sofia; Sailors, Benjamin N.; Keneipp, Rachael N.; Drndić, Marija; Bassett, Lee C.
Correlated Structural and Optical Characterization of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Journal Article Forthcoming
In: Forthcoming.
@article{Gusdorff2024,
title = {Correlated Structural and Optical Characterization of Hexagonal Boron Nitride},
author = {Jordan A. Gusdorff and Pia Bhatia and Trey T. Shin and Alexandra Sofia Uy-Tioco and Benjamin N. Sailors and Rachael N. Keneipp and Marija Drndić and Lee C. Bassett},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.14408},
doi = {10.48550/arXiv.2411.14408},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-11-21},
urldate = {2024-11-21},
abstract = {Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) hosts quantum emitters that exhibit single-photon emission and spin-dependent fluorescence at room temperature. These features make hBN a promising platform for quantum sensing and photonics. Despite many investigations of their optical properties, the emitters' chemical structure remains unclear, as does the role of contamination at surfaces and interfaces in forming the emitters or modifying their properties. We prepare hBN samples that are compatible with both confocal photoluminescence microscopy (PL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and we use those techniques to investigate correlations between fluorescent emission, flake morphology, and surface residue. We find that the microscopy techniques themselves induce changes in hBN's optical activity and residue morphology: PL measurements induce photobleaching, whereas TEM measurements alter surface residue and emission characteristics. We also study the effects of common treatments — annealing and oxygen plasma cleaning — on the structure and optical activity of hBN. The results illustrate the power and importance of correlative studies to elucidate aspects of microscopic mechanisms that influence hBN's functionality as a host for quantum emitters and spin defects.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {forthcoming},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) hosts quantum emitters that exhibit single-photon emission and spin-dependent fluorescence at room temperature. These features make hBN a promising platform for quantum sensing and photonics. Despite many investigations of their optical properties, the emitters' chemical structure remains unclear, as does the role of contamination at surfaces and interfaces in forming the emitters or modifying their properties. We prepare hBN samples that are compatible with both confocal photoluminescence microscopy (PL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and we use those techniques to investigate correlations between fluorescent emission, flake morphology, and surface residue. We find that the microscopy techniques themselves induce changes in hBN's optical activity and residue morphology: PL measurements induce photobleaching, whereas TEM measurements alter surface residue and emission characteristics. We also study the effects of common treatments — annealing and oxygen plasma cleaning — on the structure and optical activity of hBN. The results illustrate the power and importance of correlative studies to elucidate aspects of microscopic mechanisms that influence hBN's functionality as a host for quantum emitters and spin defects.
Klein, Amelia R.; Engheta, Nader; Bassett, Lee C.
Designing metasurface optical interfaces for solid-state qubits using many-body adjoint shape optimization Journal Article
In: Optics Express, vol. 32, iss. 22, pp. 38504-38515, 2024.
@article{Klein2024,
title = {Designing metasurface optical interfaces for solid-state qubits using many-body adjoint shape optimization},
author = {Amelia R. Klein and Nader Engheta and Lee C. Bassett},
url = {https://opg.optica.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-32-22-38504&id=561330},
doi = {10.1364/OE.522501},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-10-09},
urldate = {2024-10-09},
journal = {Optics Express},
volume = {32},
issue = {22},
pages = {38504-38515},
abstract = {We present a general strategy for the inverse design of metasurfaces composed of elementary shapes. We use it to design a structure that collects and collimates light from nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. Such metasurfaces constitute scalable optical interfaces for solid-state qubits, enabling efficient photon coupling into optical fibers and eliminating free-space collection optics. The many-body shape optimization strategy is a practical alternative to topology optimization that explicitly enforces material and fabrication constraints throughout the optimization, while still achieving high performance. The metasurface is easily adaptable to other solid-state qubits, and the optimization method is broadly applicable to fabrication-constrained photonic design problems.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We present a general strategy for the inverse design of metasurfaces composed of elementary shapes. We use it to design a structure that collects and collimates light from nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond. Such metasurfaces constitute scalable optical interfaces for solid-state qubits, enabling efficient photon coupling into optical fibers and eliminating free-space collection optics. The many-body shape optimization strategy is a practical alternative to topology optimization that explicitly enforces material and fabrication constraints throughout the optimization, while still achieving high performance. The metasurface is easily adaptable to other solid-state qubits, and the optimization method is broadly applicable to fabrication-constrained photonic design problems.
Shulevitz, Henry J.; Amirshaghaghi, Ahmad; Ouellet, Mathieu; Brustoloni, Caroline; Yang, Shengsong; Ng, Jonah J.; Huang, Tzu-Yung; Jishkariani, Davit; Murray, Christopher B.; Tsourkas, Andrew; Kagan, Cherie R.; Bassett, Lee C.
Nanodiamond emulsions for enhanced quantum sensing and click-chemistry conjugation Journal Article
In: ACS Applied Nano Materials, vol. 7, iss. 13, pp. 15334-15343, 2024.
@article{Shulevitz2024,
title = {Nanodiamond emulsions for enhanced quantum sensing and click-chemistry conjugation},
author = {Henry J. Shulevitz and Ahmad Amirshaghaghi and Mathieu Ouellet and Caroline Brustoloni and Shengsong Yang and Jonah J. Ng and Tzu-Yung Huang and Davit Jishkariani and Christopher B. Murray and Andrew Tsourkas and Cherie R. Kagan and Lee C. Bassett},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsanm.4c01699},
doi = {10.1021/acsanm.4c01699},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-06-29},
urldate = {2023-12-04},
journal = {ACS Applied Nano Materials},
volume = {7},
issue = {13},
pages = {15334-15343},
abstract = {Nanodiamonds containing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers can serve as colloidal quantum sensors of local fields in biological and chemical environments. However, nanodiamond surfaces are challenging to modify without degrading their colloidal stability or the NV center’s optical and spin properties. We present a simple and general method to coat nanodiamonds with a thin emulsion layer that preserves their quantum features, maintains their colloidal stability, and provides functional groups for subsequent cross-linking and click-chemistry conjugation reactions. To demonstrate this technique, we decorated nanodiamonds with combinations of carboxyl- and azide-terminated amphiphiles that enable conjugation using two different strategies. A theoretical model is developed to understand the effect of the emulsion layer on the NV center’s spin lifetime, and T1 relaxometry is employed to quantify the nanodiamonds’ chemical sensitivity to paramagnetic ions. This general approach to nanodiamond surface functionalization will enable advances in quantum nanomedicine and biological sensing.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Nanodiamonds containing nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers can serve as colloidal quantum sensors of local fields in biological and chemical environments. However, nanodiamond surfaces are challenging to modify without degrading their colloidal stability or the NV center’s optical and spin properties. We present a simple and general method to coat nanodiamonds with a thin emulsion layer that preserves their quantum features, maintains their colloidal stability, and provides functional groups for subsequent cross-linking and click-chemistry conjugation reactions. To demonstrate this technique, we decorated nanodiamonds with combinations of carboxyl- and azide-terminated amphiphiles that enable conjugation using two different strategies. A theoretical model is developed to understand the effect of the emulsion layer on the NV center’s spin lifetime, and T1 relaxometry is employed to quantify the nanodiamonds’ chemical sensitivity to paramagnetic ions. This general approach to nanodiamond surface functionalization will enable advances in quantum nanomedicine and biological sensing.
Patel, Raj N.; Fishman, Rebecca E. K.; Huang, Tzu-Yung; Gusdorff, Jordan A.; Fehr, David A.; Hopper, David A.; Breitweiser, S. Alex; Porat, Benjamin; Flatté, Michael E.; Bassett, Lee C.
Room Temperature Dynamics of an Optically Addressable Single Spin in Hexagonal Boron Nitride Journal Article
In: Nano Letters, vol. 24, iss. 25, pp. 7623-7628, 2024.
@article{Patel2024,
title = {Room Temperature Dynamics of an Optically Addressable Single Spin in Hexagonal Boron Nitride},
author = {Raj N. Patel and Rebecca E. K. Fishman and Tzu-Yung Huang and Jordan A. Gusdorff and David A. Fehr and David A. Hopper and S. Alex Breitweiser and Benjamin Porat and Michael E. Flatté and Lee C. Bassett},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01333},
doi = {10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c01333},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-06-11},
urldate = {2024-06-11},
journal = {Nano Letters},
volume = {24},
issue = {25},
pages = {7623-7628},
abstract = {Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) hosts pure single-photon emitters that have shown evidence of optically detected electronic spin dynamics. However, the electrical and chemical structures of these optically addressable spins are unknown, and the nature of their spin-optical interactions remains mysterious. Here, we use time-domain optical and microwave experiments to characterize a single emitter in h-BN exhibiting room temperature optically detected magnetic resonance. Using dynamical simulations, we constrain and quantify transition rates in the model, and we design optical control protocols that optimize the signal-to-noise ratio for spin readout. This constitutes a necessary step toward quantum control of spin states in h-BN.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) hosts pure single-photon emitters that have shown evidence of optically detected electronic spin dynamics. However, the electrical and chemical structures of these optically addressable spins are unknown, and the nature of their spin-optical interactions remains mysterious. Here, we use time-domain optical and microwave experiments to characterize a single emitter in h-BN exhibiting room temperature optically detected magnetic resonance. Using dynamical simulations, we constrain and quantify transition rates in the model, and we design optical control protocols that optimize the signal-to-noise ratio for spin readout. This constitutes a necessary step toward quantum control of spin states in h-BN.