Scientific Achievement
A peculiar in-plane uniaxial transition dipole was discovered in a two-dimensional semiconductor quantum ring caused by a broken rotational symmetry. Semiconductor quantum rings are topological structures that are relevant to research on quantum information devices. The annular shape of these rings distinguishes them from other low-dimensional materials, and this enables topologically induced properties such as geometry-dependent spin manipulation and emission. While optical transition dipole moments (TDMs) in zero- to two-dimensional optical emitters have been well investigated, those in quantum rings remain obscure despite their importance to the quantum photonic application of quantum rings. Using optical spectroscopy, the dimensionality and orientation of TDMs in CdSe quantum rings was determined. In contrast to other two-dimensional optical emitters, the TDMs in CdSe quantum rings show a peculiar in-plane linear distribution. Theoretical modeling revealed the uniaxial TDM originates from broken rotational symmetry.
Significance and Impact
This finding may enable the development of a new class of quantum materials that exploit optical spin-orbit coupling through geometry engineering.
Research Details
- Optical transition dipole moments of CdSe quantum rings were measured with angle-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy and high-order scanning laser microscopy at the Center for Nanoscale Materials (CNM) and LMU.
- Empirical tight-binding calculations of the wavefunctions in CdSe quantum rings were performed at CNM and University of Ottawa; broken rotational symmetry was found to induce uniaxial transition dipole moments.
Work was performed in part at CNM.
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