Superradiance and strong light-matter coupling in plasmonic metasurface nanostructures

• Grant number: 18/22438-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2019
• End date: February 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Agreement: Texas A&M University
• Mobility Program: SPRINT - Projetos de pesquisa - Mobilidade
• Principal Investigator: Euclydes Marega Junior
• Grantee: Euclydes Marega Junior
• Principal researcher abroad: Alexey Belyanin
• Institution abroad: Texas A&M University, United States
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Marcio Daldin Teodoro
• Associated research grant: 13/07276-1 - CEPOF - Optics and Photonic Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The project will investigate superradiance and related quantum optics phenomena in a hybrid system consisting of a self-assembled quantum dot heterostructure electromagnetically coupled to a plasmonic metasurface. Superradiance is one of the most fascinating examples of self-organization in quantum systems. As originally predicted by Dicke in 1954, an incoherently prepared system of N inverted atoms can spontaneously develop macroscopic coherence from vacuum fluctuations and produce a delayed superradiant pulse of coherent light whose peak intensity scales as N2. Such pulses have been observed in atomic and molecular gases, and their intriguing quantum nature has been unambiguously demonstrated. The implementation of superrdiance in condensed matter systems was proven to be much more challenging because of ultrafast decoherence and competing many-body processes. The TAMU PI has done pioneering theoretical studies of superradiance in semiconductor nanostructures. The Sao Carlos PI was among the first to observe superradiance effects in self-assembled semiconductor quantum dots. Recently he demonstrated a high degree of control over the radiative properties of quantum dots by coupling their emission to surface plasmon-polariton modes of a plasmonic metasurface. The combined expertise of the PIs and their prior experience provides a perfect foundation and compelling motivation for the present proposal. The proposed hybrid quantum dot-plasmonic system makes a perfect tested for studying plasmonic superradiance and other collective phenomena. Moreover, the platform is compatible with standard III-V semiconductor growth technologies, which paves the way to integrated photonics applications. (AU)