@article{Ouellet2025,

title = {Mechanical prions as self-assembling microstructures},

author = {Mathieu Ouellet and Dani S. Bassett and Lee C. Bassett and Kieran A. Murphy and Shubhankar P. Patankar},

url = {https://www.cell.com/newton/fulltext/S2950-6360(25)00090-8

https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.10939},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-05-08},

urldate = {2024-04-16},

journal = {Newton},

abstract = {Prions are misfolded proteins that transmit their structural arrangement to neighboring proteins. In biological systems, prion dynamics can produce a variety of complex functional outcomes. Yet, an understanding of prionic causes has been hampered by the fact that few computational models exist that allow for experimental design, hypothesis testing, and control. Here, we identify essential prionic properties and present a biologically inspired model of prions using simple mechanical structures capable of undergoing complex conformational change. We demonstrate the utility of our approach by designing a prototypical mechanical prion and validating its properties experimentally. Our work provides a design framework for harnessing and manipulating prionic properties in natural and artificial systems.},

keywords = {complex systems, forthcoming},

pubstate = {forthcoming},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Panfil2025,

title = {Room-temperature quantum emission from CuZn-VS defects in ZnS:Cu colloidal nanocrystals},

author = {Yossef E. Panfil and Sarah M. Thompson and Gary Chen and Jonah Ng and Cherie R. Kagan and Lee C. Bassett},

url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.11812},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-21},

urldate = {2025-01-21},

journal = {arxiv:2501.11812},

abstract = {We report room-temperature observations of CuZn-VS quantum emitters in individual ZnS:Cu nanocrystals (NCs). Using time-gated imaging, we isolate the distinct, ∼3-μs-long, red photoluminescence (PL) emission of CuZn-VS defects, enabling their precise identification and statistical characterization. The emitters exhibit distinct blinking and photon antibunching, consistent with individual NCs containing two to four CuZn-VS defects. The quantum emitters' PL spectra show a pronounced blue shift compared to NC dispersions, likely due to photochemical and charging effects. Emission polarization measurements of quantum emitters are consistent with a σ-character optical dipole transition and the symmetry of the CuZn-VS defect. These observations motivate further investigation of CuZn-VS defects in ZnS NCs for use in quantum technologies.},

keywords = {colloidal nanocrystals, forthcoming, quantum defects, ZnS},

pubstate = {forthcoming},

tppubtype = {article}

}