ICFO scientists have shown that a nano-size diamond at room temperature can act as an efficient optical switch controllable with light
A recent study led by researchers of the ICFO (Institute of Photonic Sciences) demonstrates that a single nano-diamond can be operated as an ultrafast single-emitter optical switch operating at room temperature. The scientific results of this study have been published inĀ Nature Physics.
Electronic transistors have become a key component to modern electronics, drastically improving the speed of information processing of current technologies. An electronic transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals. The much sought after optical transistor (the photonic counterpart of the electronic transistor) is poised to become a central ingredient in the development of optical signal processing. The motivation for using photons rather than electrons not only comes from their faster dynamics but also from their weaker interaction with the environment, which enable a high degree of integration and the realization of quantum operations.
Prior studies have demonstrated that single dye molecules can be operated as optical transistors with the disadvantage that they worked exclusively at extremely low temperatures. Such restrictions on the temperature made these optical transistors cumbersome for application to quantum computing.
However in this recent ICFO study, scientists have shown that a nano-size diamond at room temperature can act as an efficient optical switch controllable with light. A Nano-diamond containing a nitrogen impurity behaves like an artificial atom although much more stable at room temperature than a real atom due to its encapsulation. The ICFO scientists discovered a novel physical mechanism that enables the control of the way the nano-diamond interacts with light. While excited to its ON state by a green laser, a suitable near infrared illumination was found to act as an efficient and fast way to switch it OFF. Based on this simple concept, they were able to modulate the optical nano-diamond ON and OFF at extremely high speeds, demonstrating its robustness and viability for very fast information processing and quantum computer operations.
Quidant remarks that “what is really attractive about our discovery is that our nano-switch combines very small dimensions (compatible with integrating a large number of them in a small area) with very fast response time (meaning lots of operations in a short time) and operation at room temperature”.
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Optical switch
- These Binoculars Are Changing the Way I Hunt and Scout for Big Game—Here’s Why
I put the Sig Sauer Zulu6 HDX image-stabilizing binoculars to the test during turkey season and off-season scouting. Here's how the 16x42 binos performed hunting.
- Big Sky Blend: Springtime Allergies? Shopko Optical Can Help!
The Big Sky Blend visits with Dr. Rebecca Pitt-Jackson at Shopko Optical about protecting your eyes through spring allergy season and beyond ...
- Best Keyboard Switches For Gaming In 2024
Cherry MX Speeds are arguably the most popular keyboard switches in gaming today, and that's been the case for quite a while. These switches have lower spring resistance, 1.2mm pre-travel, and no ...
- Physicists move closer to an ultra-precise ‘nuclear’ clock
Scientists have taken a major leap towards making an entirely new type of clock — one based on tiny shifts in energy in an atomic nucleus. In principle, a nuclear clock could be even more precise than ...
- Logitech G G502 Gaming Mouse Celebrates the 10th Anniversary
The Logitech G502 gaming mouse has become an icon in the gaming industry, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Over the past decade, this mouse has ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Optical switch
[google_news title=”” keyword=”optical switch” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Nano-switch
- Feed has no items.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Nano-switch
[google_news title=”” keyword=”nano-switch” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]