© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

arXiv:1708.08554 · ACS Photonics

Single Carbon Nanotubes as Ultrasmall All-Optical Memories

Takushi Uda, Akihiro Ishii, Yuichiro K. Kato

Published Nov 7, 2017• 34 citations

Abstract

Abstract Performance improvements are expected from integration of photonic devices into information processing systems, and in particular, all-optical memories provide a key functionality. Scaling down the size of memory elements is desirable for high-density integration, and the use of nanomaterials would allow for devices that are significantly smaller than the operation wavelengths. Here we report on all-optical memory based on individual carbon nanotubes, where adsorbed molecules give rise to optical bistability. By exciting at the high-energy tail of the excitonic absorption resonance, nanotubes can be switched between the desorbed state and the adsorbed state. We demonstrate reversible and reproducible operation of the nanotube optical memory, and determine the rewriting speed by measuring the molecular adsorption and desorption times. Our results underscore the impact of molecular-scale effects on optical properties of nanomaterials, offering new design strategies for photonic devices that are a few orders of magnitude smaller than the optical diffraction limit.

DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.7b01104

Related papers

Quantum-Memory-Enabled Ultrafast Optical Switching in Carbon Nanotubes

Kankan Cong, Weiwei Jiang, Bryan E. Anthonio +5 more

Optical nonlinearities can be engineered into high-speed optical gates when a probe signal is switched coherently and fast by an optical control pulse through various nonlinear effects for switching. In semiconductors, a strong light–matter interaction can also excite many electrons to interact with each other, which can deteriorate switching through Coulomb-induced dephasing. Here, we demonstrate that optical transmission of carbon nanotubes can be switched reversibly hundreds of times via detuned Rabi splitting, faster than 200 fs via nonresonant but strong control pulses. Our detailed experiment–theory analysis identifies that quantum memory in Coulombic scattering restores reversibility while simultaneously reducing undesirable pure dephasing of coherences. This capability creates new possibilities for ultrafast quantum optoelectronic processing in quantum materials.

ACS Photonics•May 6, 2020•18 citations

"Dark" and "Bright" Excitons in Carbon Nanotubes: New Media for Quantum Optics

Nikolai G. Kalugin, Yuri V. Rostovtsev

It is well-known that strong Coulomb effects in carbon nanotubes lead to formation of the so-called bright and (forbidden one-photon optical transition) exciton states, and dramatically decrease the efficiency of one-photon light emission via trapping of the carriers by states. We suggest and demonstrate that the proper use of these bright and exciton states with distinctively different recombination times may turn the situation around: the use of quantum coherence and multiphoton schemes of excitation potentially not only allow one to efficiently manipulate the dark states, but can also create conditions for efficient light generation in different frequency regions, produce slow or fast light, implement quantum light storage, and media with a negative refractive index. We discuss possible applications of the quantum coherent effects to quantum-optical carbon nanotube devices that have a potential for suitable performance at elevated temperatures, because the binding energies of excitons in single-walled nanotubes are hundreds-of-meV high.

Journal of Nanoelectronics and Optoelectronics•May 24, 2010•4 citations

Ultrafast Quantum-memory Effects in Carbon Nanotubes

Weiwei Jiang, Kankan Cong, Bryan E. Anthonio +5 more

Reversible, 200 fs optical switching of carbon nanotubes is demonstrated by utilizing Coulombic many-body effects, strong exciton binding and quantum memory in Coulombic scattering which together eliminate pure dephasing of coherences.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2020•0 citations

"Dark" vs "Bright" Excitons in Carbon Nanotubes: Applications to Quantum Optics

Nikolai G. Kalugin, Yuri V. Rostovtsev

It is strong Coulomb effects in carbon nanotubes that lead to formation of the so-called "bright" and "dark" (forbidden one-photon optical transition) exciton states, and dramatically decrease the efficiency of one-photon light emission via trapping of the carriers by "dark" states. We demonstrate that the proper use of these "bright" and "dark" exciton states with distinctively different recombination times may turn the situation around: the use of quantum coherence and multiphoton schemes of excitation potentially not only allow one to efficiently manipulate the dark states, but can also create conditions for efficient light generation in different frequency regions, produce "slow" or "fast" light, implement quantum light storage, media with a negative refractive index, and other quantum-optical regimes. Possible quantum-optical carbon nanotube devices have a potential for suitable performance at elevated temperatures, because the binding energies of excitons in single-walled nanotubes are hundreds-of-meV high.

arXiv:0902.1163•Feb 6, 2009•1 citation

Optical multistability in 1D photonic crystal doped with carbon-nanotube quantum dot nanostructures

Ghahraman Solookinejad, Mohammad Payravi, Masoud Jabbari +2 more

Abstract The optical bistability (OB) and multistability (OM) in one-dimensional photonic crystals doped with carbon-nanotube quantum dots (CNT QDs) is theoretically investigated. Our investigations show that due to spin–orbit coupling in CNT QDs the threshold of optical bistability can be adjusted. Also, the switching from OB to OM, or vice versa, can be achieved by controlling the transverse magnetic field. Our proposed model can be used as a suitable structure based on CNT QDs for realizing all-optical switching devices. Moreover, we realize that the controlling of OB and OM can be done without changing the thickness of the layers.

Laser Physics•Nov 22, 2017•4 citations

Rolling Out Single Photons

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied exhaustively in terms of electronic and mechanical properties. A large repertoire of potential applications has been demonstrated for these one-dimensional systems of rolled-up sheets of carbon. To date, most of the optical studies on CNTs have focused more on characterization. Högele et al. now show that CNTs exhibit quantum optical behavior. Photons, being bosons, like to bunch together. However, in quantum systems such as atoms and artificial atoms, the confinement of carriers can split the pack behavior, resulting in the photons being emitted one at a time. For applications such as ultrasecure communication, such antibunching behavior is desirable. These authors excite a single CNT with a laser pulse and observe that light is emitted as single photons upon relaxation. The results suggest that CNTs may extend their repertoire beyond logic circuits and other electronic devices, finding application in quantum optoelectronics. — ISO

Science•Jun 19, 2008•0 citations

Abstract Performance improvements are expected from integration of photonic devices into information processing systems, and in particular, all-optical memories provide a key functionality. Scaling down the size of memory elements is desirable for high-density integration, and the use of nanomaterials would allow for devices that are significantly smaller than the operation wavelengths. Here we report on all-optical memory based on individual carbon nanotubes, where adsorbed molecules give rise to optical bistability. By exciting at the high-energy tail of the excitonic absorption resonance, nanotubes can be switched between the desorbed state and the adsorbed state. We demonstrate reversible and reproducible operation of the nanotube optical memory, and determine the rewriting speed by measuring the molecular adsorption and desorption times. Our results underscore the impact of molecular-scale effects on optical properties of nanomaterials, offering new design strategies for photonic devices that are a few orders of magnitude smaller than the optical diffraction limit.

Optical nonlinearities can be engineered into high-speed optical gates when a probe signal is switched coherently and fast by an optical control pulse through various nonlinear effects for switching. In semiconductors, a strong light–matter interaction can also excite many electrons to interact with each other, which can deteriorate switching through Coulomb-induced dephasing. Here, we demonstrate that optical transmission of carbon nanotubes can be switched reversibly hundreds of times via detuned Rabi splitting, faster than 200 fs via nonresonant but strong control pulses. Our detailed experiment–theory analysis identifies that quantum memory in Coulombic scattering restores reversibility while simultaneously reducing undesirable pure dephasing of coherences. This capability creates new possibilities for ultrafast quantum optoelectronic processing in quantum materials.

It is well-known that strong Coulomb effects in carbon nanotubes lead to formation of the so-called bright and (forbidden one-photon optical transition) exciton states, and dramatically decrease the efficiency of one-photon light emission via trapping of the carriers by states. We suggest and demonstrate that the proper use of these bright and exciton states with distinctively different recombination times may turn the situation around: the use of quantum coherence and multiphoton schemes of excitation potentially not only allow one to efficiently manipulate the dark states, but can also create conditions for efficient light generation in different frequency regions, produce slow or fast light, implement quantum light storage, and media with a negative refractive index. We discuss possible applications of the quantum coherent effects to quantum-optical carbon nanotube devices that have a potential for suitable performance at elevated temperatures, because the binding energies of excitons in single-walled nanotubes are hundreds-of-meV high.

It is strong Coulomb effects in carbon nanotubes that lead to formation of the so-called "bright" and "dark" (forbidden one-photon optical transition) exciton states, and dramatically decrease the efficiency of one-photon light emission via trapping of the carriers by "dark" states. We demonstrate that the proper use of these "bright" and "dark" exciton states with distinctively different recombination times may turn the situation around: the use of quantum coherence and multiphoton schemes of excitation potentially not only allow one to efficiently manipulate the dark states, but can also create conditions for efficient light generation in different frequency regions, produce "slow" or "fast" light, implement quantum light storage, media with a negative refractive index, and other quantum-optical regimes. Possible quantum-optical carbon nanotube devices have a potential for suitable performance at elevated temperatures, because the binding energies of excitons in single-walled nanotubes are hundreds-of-meV high.

Abstract The optical bistability (OB) and multistability (OM) in one-dimensional photonic crystals doped with carbon-nanotube quantum dots (CNT QDs) is theoretically investigated. Our investigations show that due to spin–orbit coupling in CNT QDs the threshold of optical bistability can be adjusted. Also, the switching from OB to OM, or vice versa, can be achieved by controlling the transverse magnetic field. Our proposed model can be used as a suitable structure based on CNT QDs for realizing all-optical switching devices. Moreover, we realize that the controlling of OB and OM can be done without changing the thickness of the layers.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied exhaustively in terms of electronic and mechanical properties. A large repertoire of potential applications has been demonstrated for these one-dimensional systems of rolled-up sheets of carbon. To date, most of the optical studies on CNTs have focused more on characterization. Högele et al. now show that CNTs exhibit quantum optical behavior. Photons, being bosons, like to bunch together. However, in quantum systems such as atoms and artificial atoms, the confinement of carriers can split the pack behavior, resulting in the photons being emitted one at a time. For applications such as ultrasecure communication, such antibunching behavior is desirable. These authors excite a single CNT with a laser pulse and observe that light is emitted as single photons upon relaxation. The results suggest that CNTs may extend their repertoire beyond logic circuits and other electronic devices, finding application in quantum optoelectronics. — ISO