Light-matter interactions and quantum photonics in nano-scale semiconductor structures and devices

我们建议成立一个由谢菲尔德大学(USHEF)和多特蒙德工业大学(TUD)的10名学者组成的中心到中心联盟，利用先进材料中的光-物质相互作用，在纳米尺度上实现非线性光学、单光子现象和自旋控制方面的议程设置进展。我们将研究超纯氧化亚铜、原子薄的二维半导体和III-V半导体纳米结构，所有这些都处于现代研究的前沿。通过与TUD最高质量的科学家的密切互动，以及访问他们世界领先的实验基础设施，这一合作为英国提供了重要的附加值，使尖端研究主题得到支持。光和物质的相互作用是一系列自然现象的核心，并在物理、化学、生物学等方面的应用。在这个项目中，我们将使用潜在的变革性方法，通过使用特殊设计的纳米结构材料来利用这些现象，并探索微型和纳米光子结构中的非线性和量子光学现象。其雄心是在加强和控制纳米结构中的光-物质相互作用的基础上，孕育和发展新的研究方向。为此，我们将使用广泛的新材料基础，包括原子薄层的过渡金属二卤化物(TMD)、超纯Cu2O和位于III-V半导体纳米光子结构中的量子点。该联盟将解决三个相互关联的主题，它们在技术和物理上具有相当大的协同作用和共享，包括：具有里德堡激子的非线性和量子光学-氧化亚铜中的激子-极化子；范德华异质结构中的山谷现象；超快量子纳米光子。这三个主题都涉及利用新材料系统中的光-物质相互作用。纳米尺度的设计是整个过程中的一个共同主题，使人们能够发现新的光学和量子光学现象。此外，它们都依赖于对激子性质在极端极限的控制。除了带来开创性的新物理学，该计划还有可能在量子通信和自旋电子器件中开辟长期应用，仅举两个例子。高度集成的合作计划，充分利用中心对中心合作的好处，将得到谢菲尔德和多特蒙德之间的博士后总共60个月的延长访问的支持。

We propose a Centre-to-Centre consortium formed of 10 academics from the University of Sheffield (USHEF) and the Technical University of Dortmund (TUD) to exploit light-matter interactions in advanced materials, achieving agenda-setting advances in non-linear optics, single photon phenomena and spin-control on the nanoscale. We will study ultra-pure cuprous oxide, atomically thin two-dimensional semiconductors, and III-V semiconductor nano-structures, all at the forefront of modern day research. The collaboration provides major added value to the UK by enabling cutting-edge research themes supported by close interaction with highest quality scientists at TUD, as well as access to their world-leading experimental infrastructure.The interaction of light and matter is at the heart of a huge range of natural phenomena and applications in physics, chemistry, biology etc. In this project, we will use potentially transformative approaches to harnessing these phenomena by using specially designed nano-structured materials, and exploring non-linear and quantum optical phenomena in micro- and nano-photonic structures. The ambition is to seed and develop new research directions based on enhancing and controlling light-matter interactions in nanoscale structures. To this end we will use a broad base of novel materials including atomically thin layers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), ultra-pure Cu2O, and quantum dots located within III-V semiconductor nano-photonic structures. The consortium will address three inter-related themes having considerable synergy and sharing of techniques and physics including: non-linear and quantum optics with Rydberg exciton-polaritons in cuprous oxide; valley phenomena in van der Waals heterostructures; ultrafast quantum nano-photonics.All three themes involve the harnessing of light-matter interactions in novel material systems. Design on the nanoscale is a common theme throughout enabling the discovery of new optical and quantum-optical phenomena. Furthermore, they all rely on the control of the properties of excitons in extreme limits. As well as leading to ground-breaking new physics, the programme has potential to open up long term applications in quantum communications and in spintronic devices to give just two examples.The highly integrated collaboration programme, exploiting to the full the benefits of the Centre-to-Centre cooperation, will be supported by a total of 60 months of extended visits by postdocs in both directions between Sheffield and Dortmund.