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Author Sahu, Mitrabhanu; Bae, Myung-Ho; Rogachev, Andrey; Pekker, David; Wei, Tzu-Chieh; Shah, Nayana; Goldbart, Paul M.; Bezryadin, Alexey
Title Individual topological tunnelling events of a quantum field probed through their macroscopic consequences Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2009 Publication Nature Phys. Abbreviated Journal Nature Phys.
Volume 5 Issue Pages 503-508
Keywords phase slips, superconducting nanowires
Abstract Phase slips are topological fluctuations that carry the superconducting order-parameter field between distinct current-carrying states. Owing to these phase slips, superconducting nanowires acquire electrical resistance. In such wires, it is well known that at higher temperatures phase slips occur through the process of thermal barrier-crossing by the order-parameter field. At low temperatures, the general expectation is that phase slips should proceed through quantum tunnelling events, which are known as quantum phase slips. However, resistive measurements have produced evidence both for and against the occurrence of quantum phase slips. Here, we report evidence for the observation of individual quantum phase-slip events in homogeneous ultranarrow wires at high bias currents. We accomplish this through measurements of the distribution of switching currents for which the width exhibits a rather counter-intuitive, monotonic increase with decreasing temperature. Importantly, measurements show that in nanowires with larger critical currents, quantum fluctuations dominate thermal fluctuations up to higher temperatures.
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Notes Recommended by Klapwijk Approved no
Call Number Serial 928
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Author Lydersen, Lars; Wiechers, Carlos; Wittmann, Christoffer; Elser, Dominique; Skaar, Johannes; Makarov, Vadim
Title Hacking commercial quantum cryptography systems by tailored bright illumination Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2010 Publication Nature Photonics Abbreviated Journal Nat. Photon.
Volume 4 Issue 10 Pages 686 - 689
Keywords quantum cryptography, hacking, QKD, APD
Abstract The peculiar properties of quantum mechanics allow two remote parties to communicate a private, secret key, which is protected from eavesdropping by the laws of physics. So-called quantum key distribution (QKD) implementations always rely on detectors to measure the relevant quantum property of single photons. Here we demonstrate experimentally that the detectors in two commercially available QKD systems can be fully remote-controlled using specially tailored bright illumination. This makes it possible to tracelessly acquire the full secret key; we propose an eavesdropping apparatus built of off-the-shelf components. The loophole is likely to be present in most QKD systems using avalanche photodiodes to detect single photons. We believe that our findings are crucial for strengthening the security of practical QKD, by identifying and patching technological deficiencies.
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Call Number RPLAB @ gujma @ Serial 657
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Author Bonifas, Andrew P.; McCreery, Richard L.
Title ‘Soft’ Au, Pt and Cu contacts for molecular junctions through surface-diffusion-mediated deposition Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2010 Publication Nature Nanotechnology Abbreviated Journal Nat. Nanotech.
Volume 5 Issue 8 Pages 612–617
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Abstract Virtually all types of molecular electronic devices depend on electronically addressing a molecule or molecular layer through the formation of a metallic contact. The introduction of molecular devices into integrated circuits will probably depend on the formation of contacts using a vapour deposition technique, but this approach frequently results in the metal atoms penetrating or damaging the molecular layer. Here, we report a method of forming 'soft' metallic contacts on molecular layers through surface-diffusion-mediated deposition, in which the metal atoms are deposited remotely and then diffuse onto the molecular layer, thus eliminating the problems of penetration and damage. Molecular junctions fabricated by this method exhibit excellent yield (typically >90%) and reproducibility, and allow examination of the effects of molecular-layer structure, thickness and contact work function.
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Call Number RPLAB @ gujma @ Serial 682
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Author Freer, Erik M.; Grachev, Oleg; Duan, Xiangfeng; Martin, Samuel; Stumbo, David P.
Title High-yield self-limiting single-nanowire assembly with dielectrophoresis Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2010 Publication Nature Nanotechnology Abbreviated Journal Nat. Nanotech.
Volume 5 Issue 7 Pages 525–530
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Abstract Single-crystal nanowire transistors and other nanowire-based devices could have applications in large-area and flexible electronics if conventional top-down fabrication techniques can be integrated with high-precision bottom-up nanowire assembly. Here, we extend dielectrophoretic nanowire assembly to achieve a 98.5% yield of single nanowires assembled over 16,000 patterned electrode sites with submicrometre alignment precision. The balancing of surface, hydrodynamic and dielectrophoretic forces makes the self-assembly process controllable, and a hydrodynamic force component makes it self-limiting. Our approach represents a methodology to quantify nanowire assembly, and makes single nanowire assembly possible over an area limited only by the ability to reproduce process conditions uniformly.
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Call Number RPLAB @ gujma @ Serial 683
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Author Konstantatos, Gerasimos; Sargent, Edward H.
Title Nanostructured materials for photon detection Type Journal Article
Year (up) 2010 Publication Nature Nanotechnology Abbreviated Journal Nat. Nanotech.
Volume 5 Issue 6 Pages 391–400
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Abstract The detection of photons underpins imaging, spectroscopy, fibre-optic communications and time-gated distance measurements. Nanostructured materials are attractive for detection applications because they can be integrated with conventional silicon electronics and flexible, large-area substrates, and can be processed from the solution phase using established techniques such as spin casting, spray coating and layer-by-layer deposition. In addition, their performance has improved rapidly in recent years. Here we review progress in light sensing using nanostructured materials, focusing on solution-processed materials such as colloidal quantum dots and metal nanoparticles. These devices exhibit phenomena such as absorption of ultraviolet light, plasmonic enhancement of absorption, size-based spectral tuning, multiexciton generation, and charge carrier storage in surface and interface traps.
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Call Number RPLAB @ gujma @ Serial 684
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