Jeppe Johansen

Size dependence of the wavefunction of self-assembled InAs quantum dots from time-resolved optical measurements

Jeppe Johansen, Søren Stobbe, Ivan S. Nikolaev, Toke Lund-Hansen, Philip T. Kristensen, Jørn M. Hvam, Willem L. Vos, and Peter Lodahl COM · DTU, Department of Communications, Optics, and Materials, Nano · DTU, Technical University of Denmark, DTU Building 345V, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark Center for Nanophotonics, FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF), Amsterdam, The Netherlands Complex Photonics Systems, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, The Netherlands

Size-dependent oscillator strength and quantum efficiency of CdSe quantum dots controlled via the local density of states

We study experimentally time-resolved emission of colloidal CdSe quantum dots in an environment with a controlled local density of states (LDOS). The decay rate is measured versus frequency and as a function of distance to a mirror. We observe a linear relation between the decay rate and the LDOS, allowing us to determine the size-dependent quantum efficiency and oscillator strength. We find that the quantum efficiency decreases with increasing emission energy mostly due to an increase in nonradiative decay. We manage to obtain the oscillator strength of the important class of CdSe quantum dots. The oscillator strength varies weakly with frequency in agreement with behavior of quantum dots in the strong confinement limit. Surprisingly, previously calculated tight-binding results differ by a factor of 5 with the measured absolute values. Results from pseudopotential calculations agree well with the measured radiative rates. Our results are relevant for applications of CdSe quantum dots in spontaneous emission control and cavity quantum electrodynamics

Probing long-lived dark excitons in self-assembled quantum dots

The spin-flip rate that couples dark and bright excitons in self-assembled quantum dots is obtained from time-resolved spontaneous emission measurements in a modified local density of optical states. Employing this technique, we can separate effects due to non-radiative recombination and unambiguously record the spin-flip rate. The dependence of the spin-flip rate on emission energy is compared in detail to a recent model from the literature, where the spin flip is due to the combined action of short-range exchange interaction and acoustic phonons. We furthermore observe a surprising enhancement of the spin-flip rate close to a semiconductor-air interface, which illustrates the important role of interfaces for quantum dot based nanophotonic structures. Our work is an important step towards a full understanding of the complex dynamics of quantum dots in nanophotonic structures, such as photonic crystals, and dark excitons are potentially useful for long-lived coherent storage applications.

Frequency dependence of the radiative decay rate of excitons in self-assembled quantum dots: Experiment and theory

We analyze time-resolved spontaneous emission from excitons confined in self-assembled InAs quantum dots placed at various distances to a semiconductor-air interface. The modification of the local density of optical states due to the proximity of the interface enables unambiguous determination of the radiative and nonradiative decay rates of the excitons. From measurements at various emission energies, we obtain the frequency dependence of the radiative decay rate, which is only revealed due to the separation of the radiative and nonradiative parts. It contains detailed information about the dependence of the exciton wave function on quantum dot size. We derive the quantum optics theory of a solid-state emitter in an inhomogeneous environment and compare this theory to our experimental results. Using this model, we extract the frequency dependence of the overlap between the electron and hole wave functions. We furthermore discuss three models of quantum dot strain and compare the measured wave-function overlap to these models. The observed frequency dependence of the wave-function overlap can be understood qualitatively in terms of the different compressibility of electrons and holes originating from their different effective masses and binding energies.

Determination of the Maximum Aerodynamic Efficiency of Wind Turbine Rotors with Winglets

The present work contains theoretical considerations and computational results on the nature of using winglets on wind turbines. The theoretical results presented show that the power augmentation obtainable with winglets is due to a reduction of tip-effects, and is not, as believed up to now, caused by the downwind vorticity shift due to downwind winglets. The numerical work includes optimization of the power coefficient for a given tip speed ratio and geometry of the span using a newly developed free wake lifting line code, which takes into account also viscous effects and self induced forces. Validation of the new code with CFD results for a rotor without winglets showed very good agreement. Results from the new code with winglets indicate that downwind winglets are superior to upwind ones with respect to optimization of Cp, and that the increase in power production is less than what may be obtained by a simple extension of the wing in the radial direction. The computations also show that shorter downwind winglets (>2%) come close to the increase in Cp obtained by a radial extension of the wing. Lastly, the results from the code are used to design a rotor with a 2% downwind winglet, which is computed using the Navier-Stokes solver EllipSys3D. These computations show that further work is needed to validate the FWLL code for cases where the rotor is equipped with winglets.

Decay dynamics of quantum dots influenced by the local density of optical states of two-dimensional photonic crystal membranes

We have performed time-resolved spectroscopy on InAs quantum dot ensembles in photonic crystal membranes. The influence of the photonic crystal is investigated by varying the lattice constant systematically. We observe a strong slow down of the quantum dots’ spontaneous emission rates as the two-dimensional bandgap is tuned through their emission frequencies. The measured band edges are in full agreement with theoretical predictions. We characterize the multiexponential decay curves by their mean decay time and find enhancement of the spontaneous emission at the bandgap edges and strong inhibition inside the bandgap in good agreement with local density of states calculations.

3D Navier-Stokes Simulations of a rotor designed for Maximum Aerodynamic Efficiency

The present paper describes the design of a three-bladed wind turbine rotor taking into account maximum aerodynamic efficiency only and not considering structural as well as offdesign issues. The rotor was designed assuming constant induction for most of the blade span, but near the tip region a constant load was assumed. The rotor design was obtained using an Actuator Disc model and was subsequently verified using both a free wake Lifting Line method and a full 3D Navier-Stokes solver. Excellent agreement was obtained using the three models. Global mechanical power coefficient, CP, reached a value of slightly above 0.51, while global thrust coefficient, CT, was 0.87. The local power coefficient, Cp, increased to slightly above the Betz limit on the inner part of the rotor as well as the local thrust coefficient, Ct, increased to a value above 1.1. This agrees well with the theory of de Vries which states that including the effect of the low pressure behind the centre of the rotor stemming from the increased rotation both Cp and Ct will increase towards the root. Towards the tip both Cp and Ct decrease due to tip corrections as well as drag.

Hybrid RANS/LES Method for High Reynolds Numbers, Applied to Atmospheric Flow over Complex Terrain

The use of Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) to predict wall-bounded flows has presently been limited to low Reynolds number flows. Since the number of computational grid points required to resolve the near-wall turbulent structures increase rapidly with Reynolds number, LES has been unattainable for flows at high Reynolds numbers. To reduce the computational cost of traditional LES a hybrid method is proposed in which the near-wall eddies are modelled in a Reynolds-averaged sense. Close to walls the flow is treated with the RANS-equations and this layer act as wall model for the outer flow handled by LES. The well-known high Reynolds number two-equation k - turbulence model is used in the RANS layer and the model automatically switches to a two-equation k - subgrid-scale stress model in the LES region. The approach can be used for flow over rough walls. To demonstrate the ability of the proposed hybrid method, simulations of the wind flow over a complex terrain near Wellington in New Zealand are presented. Under certain conditions unsteady flow features have been measured at the site - flow features that could lead to high structural loads on a planned wind farm. These transient flow phenomena are reproduced with the new RANS/LES method. Additionally, the results from the hybrid method are compared with pure RANS results.

Simulation of low frequency noise from a downwind wind turbine rotor

One of the major drawbacks of a wind turbine with a downwind rotor is the generation of considerable low frequency noise (so-called thumping noise) which can cause annoyance of people at a considerable distance. This was experienced on a number of full-scale turbines in e.g. US and Sweden in the period from around 1980 to 1990. One of the common characteristics of this low frequency noise, emerging from analysis of the phenomenon, was that the sound pressure level is strongly varying in time. We have investigated this phenomenon using a model package by which the low frequency noise of a downwind rotor can be simulated. In order to investigate the importance of wake unsteadiness, time true CFD computations of the flow past a 4 m diameter cylinder were performed at 8 m/s, and the wake characteristics were subsequently read into the aeroelastic code HAWC, which finally gives output to the aero acoustic model. The results for a 5 MW two-bladed turbine with a downwind rotor showed an increase in the sound pressure level of 5-20 dB due to the unsteadiness in the wake caused mainly by vortex shedding. However, in some periods the sound pressure level can increase additionally 0-10 dB when the blades directly pass through the discrete shed vortices behind the tower. The present numerical results strongly confirm the experiences with full scale turbines showing big variations of sound pressure level in time due to the wake unsteadiness, as well as a considerable increase in sound pressure level if the blade passing frequency is close to the Strouhal number controlling the vortex shedding from the tower.

Identification of severe wind conditions using a Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes solver

The present paper describes the application of a Navier-Stokes solver to predict the presence of severe flow conditions in complex terrain, capturing conditions that may be critical to the siting of wind turbines in the terrain. First it is documented that the flow solver is capable of predicting the flow in the complex terrain by comparing with measurements from two meteorology masts. Next, it is illustrated how levels of turbulent kinetic energy can be used to easily identify areas with severe flow conditions, relying on a high correlation between high turbulence intensity and severe flow conditions, in the form of high wind shear and directional shear which may seriously lower the lifetime of a wind turbine.