EAGER: Enabling Quantum Leap: Towards Room Temperature Quantum Logic Using Moire Heterostructure Single Quantum Emitters Coupled to Plasmonic Waveguides

非技术描述：量子力学系统有可能导致通信、传感和计算技术的变革性进步。然而，这些量子信息技术需要创造新的材料来充分发挥其潜力。最近，二维材料已经成为一个很有前途的平台，因为它们的性质可以通过控制它们的组成原子、电相互作用和材料层之间的相互作用来轻松地定制。量子信息处理的一个有希望的途径是通过使用按需产生单个光子的光源。然而，在技术上可行之前，有几个缺点需要克服，包括这种光源的制造、放置和控制。该项目旨在创建一个室温操作的可扩展单光子源平台，为量子信息处理技术开辟道路，因为量子信息处理技术目前不可能实现，因为它们需要低温才能运行。除了这项研究对技术的重大影响之外，它还为两名研究生提供了材料合成、纳米制造、扫描探针显微镜和光学领域的跨学科培训。技术描述：该跨学科项目旨在创建一个可扩展的室温量子逻辑架构，该架构由二维材料异质结构耦合到等离子波导的单量子发射器组成。特别是，两个过渡金属二硫族化物单层之间的晶格错配和扭转角导致具有周期性最小电位排列的云纹图案。利用WSe2和MoSe2的异质结构，由于晶格常数之间的密切匹配，可以创建长波云纹图案。在每个势极小值中，单个激子可以被定义良好的本征约束势捕获，从而产生单个量子发射器。激子由一层中的电子和另一层中的空穴组成。通过独特地控制层与层之间的扭转角，激子的约束势可以改变，层与层之间的间距也可以控制，从而允许确定单量子发射体的位置。然后利用等离子体纳米结构将这些发射体耦合到传播表面等离子体激元的电磁场中。这种表面等离子激元和单量子发射体的耦合随后被用于室温单光子晶体管平台。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Nontechnical description: Quantum mechanical systems have the potential to lead to transformative advances in communication, sensing and computing technologies. However, these quantum information technologies require the creation of novel materials to enable their full potential. Recently two-dimensional materials have emerged as a promising platform as their properties can be easily tailored through control of their constituent atoms, electrical interactions, and interactions between layers of the material. One promising avenue for quantum information processing is through the use of light sources that produce individual photons on demand. However, there are several drawbacks that need to be overcome before these are technologically feasible, including the fabrication, placement and control of such light sources. This project aims to create a room-temperature-operating scalable single-photon-source platform, opening the way to quantum information processing technologies that are currently not possible because they require cryogenic temperatures to operate. Beyond the significant impact that this research has on technology, it also provides interdisciplinary training for two graduate students in the areas of materials synthesis, nanofabrication, scanning probe microscopy and optics. Technical description: This interdisciplinary project seeks to create a scalable room-temperature quantum logic architecture composed of single quantum emitters intrinsic to 2D materials heterostructures coupled to plasmonic waveguides. In particular, the lattice mismatch and twist angle between two transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers leads to a moire pattern with a periodic arrangement of potential minima. Using a heterostructure of WSe2 and MoSe2 allows a long wavelength moire pattern to be created, thanks to a close match between lattice constants. In each of the potential minima, a single exciton can be trapped with a well-defined intrinsic confinement potential, leading to the creation of a single quantum emitter. The excitons consist of an electron in one layer and a hole in the other layer. By uniquely controlling the twist angle between layers, the confinement potential of the exciton can be changed and the spacing between them also controlled, allowing the deterministic placement of the single quantum emitters. These emitters are then coupled to the electromagnetic field of propagating surface plasmon polaritons using plasmonic nanostructures. This coupling of surface plasmon polaritons and single quantum emitters is subsequently used for a room-temperature single photon transistor platform.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.