Storing and transmitting information in a simple way of 1s and 0s-just like today’s classic computer technology-is not enough for the quantum technology being developed. Now, researchers from Japan have created a nano-antenna, which will help bring quantum information networks closer to practical applications.
(ChinaIT.com News) In a recent study published in “Applied Physics Letters”, researchers from Osaka University and partners have significantly enhanced the conversion of photons to electrons through metal nanostructures, which are being developed for sharing And an important step in advanced technology for processing data.
Classic computer information is based on simple on/off readings. It is very easy to use repeater technology to amplify and retransmit this information over a long distance. Quantum information is based on relatively more complex and safer readings, such as photon polarization and electron spin. Semiconductor nanoboxes called quantum dots are materials proposed by researchers for storing and transmitting quantum information. However, quantum repeater technology has some limitations-for example, the current method of converting photon-based information to electron-based information is very inefficient. Overcoming this information conversion and transmission challenge is a problem that Osaka University researchers aim to solve.
“Currently, the efficiency of converting a single photon into a single electron in gallium arsenide quantum dots (a common material in quantum communication research) is too low,” first author Rio Fukai explained. “Therefore, we designed a nano-antenna—consisting of ultra-small concentric rings of gold—to focus light onto a single quantum dot to read the voltage from our device.”
Compared with not using nano-antennas, the researchers increased the photon absorption by 9 times. After illuminating a single quantum dot, most of the photogenerated electrons are not trapped there, but accumulated in impurities or other locations in the device. Nevertheless, these extra electrons give a minimum voltage reading, which is easily distinguished from the voltage reading produced by the quantum dot electrons, and therefore will not destroy the expected reading of the device.
“Theoretical simulations show that we can increase photon absorption by 25 times,” said senior author Akira Oiwa. “Improving the alignment of the light source and more precise manufacturing of nano-antennas are the research directions of our group.”
These results have important applications. Researchers now have a way to use mature nanophotonics to advance the prospects of the upcoming quantum communication and information network. By using abstract physical properties such as entanglement and superposition, quantum technology can provide unprecedented information security and data processing in the coming decades.
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