Quantum coherence and carrier dynamics in colloidal nanostructures from dots to platelets

Colloidal nanostructures such as semiconductor quantum dots are relatively simple to manufacture, are widely tuneable in shape and size and can be made of a large range of materials. They are useful as optical biomarkers, wavelength converters on light emitting diodes, solar energy, and quantum information processing. The proposed project investigates the quantum coherence and carrier dynamics of electrons and holes in novel colloidal structures developed to achieve a radiatively limited dephasing. While a variety of different structures will potentially be investigated in the project to achieve this goal, the project will commence with the
investigation of CdSe platelets and large CdSe/CdS dots. Both are promising candidates to achive radiatively limited dephasing, with the platelets resembling the physics of two-dimensional materials. Further nanostructures which could be investigated are single walled semiconducting nanotubes, and graphene dots. You will perform the measurements using and further developing our world-leading heterodyne-detected four-wave mixing setup used for our recent publications as given below. You will develop experimental skills and knowledge in optics & lasers by using femtosecond lasers systems and a complex optical setup. You will develop skills in programming by adapting the software to control the experiment. You will perform data analysis and modelling using the knowledge on the physical processes involved. This project is supervised by Professor Wolfgang Langbein.