Philippe Tamarat

Single metallic nanoparticle imaging for protein detection in cells

We performed a visualization of membrane proteins labeled with 10-nm gold nanoparticles in cells, using an all-optical method based on photothermal interference contrast. The high sensitivity of the method and the stability of the signals allows 3D imaging of individual nanoparticles without the drawbacks of photobleaching and blinking inherent to fluorescent markers. A simple analytical model is derived to account for the measurements of the signal amplitude and the spatial resolution. The photothermal interference contrast method provides an efficient, reproducible, and promising way to visualize low amounts of proteins in cells by optical means.

Coherent population trapping of single spins in diamond under optical excitation

Coherent population trapping is demonstrated in single nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond under optical excitation. For sufficient excitation power, the fluorescence intensity drops almost to the background level when the laser modulation frequency matches the 2.88 GHz splitting of the ground states. The results are well described theoretically by a four-level model, allowing the relative transition strengths to be determined for individual centers. The results show that all-optical control of single spins is possible in diamond.

Stark Shift Control of Single Optical Centers in Diamond

Lifetime-limited optical excitation lines of single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers in diamond have been observed at liquid helium temperature. They display unprecedented spectral stability over many seconds and excitation cycles. Spectral tuning of the spin-selective optical resonances was performed via the application of an external electric field (i.e., the Stark shift). A rich variety of Stark shifts were observed including linear as well as quadratic components. The ability to tune the excitation lines of single NV centers has potential applications in quantum information processing.

Efficient biexciton emission in elongated CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals.

We use a combination of low-temperature magneto-optical and lifetime spectroscopies to study the band-edge exciton fine structure of highly photostable single CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals (NCs). Neutral NCs displaying multiline emission spectra and multiexponential photoluminescence (PL) decays are studied as a function of temperature and external magnetic fields. Three different fine structure regimes are identified as a function of the NC aspect ratio. In particular, we identify an optically inactive ground exciton state, whose oscillator strength is tuned up under magnetic field coupling to bright exciton states, and attribute it to the zero angular momentum ground exciton state of elongated NCs. We also show evidence for highly efficient biexciton emission in these NCs, with radiative yields approaching unity in some cases.

Magneto-optical properties of trions in non-blinking charged nanocrystals reveal an acoustic phonon bottleneck

Charged quantum dots provide an important platform for a range of emerging quantum technologies. Colloidal quantum dots in particular offer unique advantages for such applications (facile synthesis, manipulation and compatibility with a wide range of environments), especially if stable charged states can be harnessed in these materials. Here we engineer the CdSe nanocrystal core and shell structure to efficiently ionize at cryogenic temperatures, resulting in trion emission with a single sharp zero-phonon line and a mono exponential decay. Magneto-optical spectroscopy enables direct determination of electron and hole g-factors. Spin relaxation is observed in high fields, enabling unambiguous identification of the trion charge. Importantly, we show that spin flips are completely inhibited for Zeeman splittings below the low-energy bound for confined acoustic phonons. This reveals a characteristic unique to colloidal quantum dots that will promote the use of these versatile materials in challenging quantum technological applications.

Spontaneous Spectral Diffusion in CdSe Quantum Dots.

Spectral diffusion of the emission line of single colloidal nanocrystals is generally regarded as a random process. Here, we show that each new spectral position has a finite memory of previous spectral positions, as evidenced by persistent anticorrelations in time series of spectral jumps. The anticorrelation indicates that there is an enhanced probability of the charge distribution around the nanocrystal returning to a previous configuration. We show both statistically and directly that this memory manifests as an observable spontaneous relaxation in the absence of a pump laser, so that spectral diffusion progresses in a manner of two steps forward and one step back.

Neutral and Charged Exciton Fine Structure in Single Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals Revealed by Magneto-optical Spectroscopy

Revealing the crystal structure of lead halide perovskite nanocrystals is essential for the optimization of stability of these emerging materials in applications such as solar cells, photodetectors, and light-emitting devices. We use magneto-photoluminescence spectroscopy of individual perovskite CsPbBr3 nanocrystals as a unique tool to determine their crystal structure, which imprints distinct signatures in the excitonic sublevels of charge complexes at low temperatures. At zero magnetic field, the identification of two classes of photoluminescence spectra, displaying either two or three sublevels in their exciton fine structure, shows evidence for the existence of two crystalline structures, namely tetragonal D4h and orthorhombic D2h phases. Magnetic field shifts, splitting, and coupling of the sublevels provide a determination of the diamagnetic coefficient and valuable information on the exciton g-factor and its anisotropic character. Moreover, this spectroscopic study reveals the optical properties of charged excitons and allows the extraction of the electron and hole g-factors for perovskite systems.

Efficient generation of near infra-red single photons from the zero-phonon line of a single molecule

Using the zero-phonon line (ZPL) emission of a single molecule, we realized a triggered source of near-infra-red (lambda = 785 nm) single photons at a high repetition rate. A Weierstrass solid immersion lens is used to image single molecules with an optical resolution of 300 nm (approximately 0.4lambda) and a high collection efficiency. Because dephasing of the transition dipole due to phonons vanishes at liquid helium temperatures, our source is attractive for the efficient generation of single indistinguishable photons.

Cryogenic Single-Nanocrystal Spectroscopy: Reading the Spectral Fingerprint of Individual CdSe Quantum Dots

Spectroscopically resolved emission from single nanocrystals at cryogenic temperatures provides unique insight into physical processes that occur within these materials. At low temperatures, the emission spectra collapse to narrow lines, revealing a rich spectroscopic landscape and unexpected properties, completely hidden at the ensemble level. Since these techniques were first used, the technology of nanocrystal synthesis has matured significantly, and new materials with outstanding photostability have been reported. In this perspective, we show how cryogenic spectroscopy of single nanocrystals probes the fundamental excitonic structure of the band edge, revealing spectral fingerprints that are highly sensitive to a range of photophysical properties as well as nanocrystal morphology. In particular, spectral and temporal signatures of biexciton and trion emission are revealed, and their relevance to emerging technologies is discussed. Overall we show how cryogenic single nanocrystal spectroscopy can be used as a tool for understanding fundamental photophysics and guiding the synthesis of new nanocrystal materials.

The ultimate limit to the emission linewidth of single nanocrystals

Measurements of the emission linewidth of single nanocrystals are usually limited by spectral diffusion. At cryogenic temperatures, the origin of this instability was revealed to be photo-induced, suggesting that the spectral peak position may be stable in the limit of vanishing optical excitation. Here we test this stability using resonant photoluminescence excitation and find there is persistent spectral broadening, which ultimately limits the emission linewidth in these materials. The spectral broadening is shown to be consistent with spontaneous fluctuations of the local electrostatic field within the disordered environment surrounding the nanocrystal.