Yossi Paltiel

A chiral-based magnetic memory device without a permanent magnet

Several technologies are currently in use for computer memory devices. However, there is a need for a universal memory device that has high density, high speed and low power requirements. To this end, various types of magnetic-based technologies with a permanent magnet have been proposed. Recent charge-transfer studies indicate that chiral molecules act as an efficient spin filter. Here we utilize this effect to achieve a proof of concept for a new type of chiral-based magnetic-based Si-compatible universal memory device without a permanent magnet. More specifically, we use spin-selective charge transfer through a self-assembled monolayer of polyalanine to magnetize a Ni layer. This magnitude of magnetization corresponds to applying an external magnetic field of 0.4 T to the Ni layer. The readout is achieved using low currents. The presented technology has the potential to overcome the limitations of other magnetic-based memory technologies to allow fabricating inexpensive, high-density universal memory-on-chip devices.

Highly Directional Emission and Photon Beaming from Nanocrystal Quantum Dots Embedded in Metallic Nanoslit Arrays

We demonstrate a directional beaming of photons emitted from nanocrystal quantum dots that are embedded in a subwavelength metallic nanoslit array with a divergence angle of less than 4°. We show that the eigenmodes of the structure result in localized electromagnetic field enhancements at the Bragg cavity resonances, which could be controlled and engineered in both real and momentum space. The photon beaming is achieved using the enhanced resonant coupling of the quantum dots to these Bragg cavity modes, which dominates the emission properties of the quantum dots. We show that the emission probability of a quantum dot into the narrow angular mode is 20 times larger than the emission probability to all other modes. Engineering nanocrystal quantum dots with subwavelength metallic nanostructures is a promising way for a range of new types of active optical devices, where spatial control of the optical properties of nanoemitters is essential, on both the single and many photons level.

Atomic-scale mapping of quantum dots formed by droplet epitaxy.

Quantum dots (QDs) have applications in optoelectronic devices, quantum information processing and energy harvesting. Although the droplet epitaxy fabrication method allows for a wide range of material combinations to be used, little is known about the growth mechanisms involved. Here we apply direct X-ray methods to derive sub-ångström resolution maps of QDs crystallized from indium droplets exposed to antimony, as well as their interface with a GaAs (100) substrate. We find that the QDs form coherently and extend a few unit cells below the substrate surface. This facilitates a droplet-substrate exchange of atoms, resulting in core-shell structures that contain a surprisingly small amount of In. The work provides the first atomic-scale mapping of the interface between epitaxial QDs and a substrate, and establishes the usefulness of X-ray phasing techniques for this and similar systems.

Local light-induced magnetization using nanodots and chiral molecules.

With the increasing demand for miniaturization, nanostructures are likely to become the primary components of future integrated circuits. Different approaches are being pursued toward achieving efficient electronics, among which are spin electronics devices (spintronics). In principle, the application of spintronics should result in reducing the power consumption of electronic devices. Recently a new, promising, effective approach for spintronics has emerged, using spin selectivity in electron transport through chiral molecules. In this work, using chiral molecules and nanocrystals, we achieve local spin-based magnetization generated optically at ambient temperatures. Through the chiral layer, a spin torque can be transferred without permanent charge transfer from the nanocrystals to a thin ferromagnetic layer, creating local perpendicular magnetization. We used Hall sensor configuration and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure the induced local magnetization. At low temperatures, anomalous spin Hall effects were measured using a thin Ni layer. The results may lead to optically controlled spintronics logic devices that will enable low power consumption, high density, and cheap fabrication.

Hybrid nanocrystals-organic-semiconductor light sensor

We present a light sensing device based on nearly spherical, defect free colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) of InAs acting as a light activated gate for a GaAs∕AlGaAs field effect semiconductor transistor. We use self-assembled organic monolayer as linkers that attach the InAs NCs to the surface of the semiconductor device, instead of the gate that exists in common transistors. When the NCs absorb light, at a frequency corresponding to their resonance, a change in the current through the transistor takes place while no current flows through the NCs themselves.

Cold denaturation induces inversion of dipole and spin transfer in chiral peptide monolayers

Chirality-induced spin selectivity is a recently-discovered effect, which results in spin selectivity for electrons transmitted through chiral peptide monolayers. Here, we use this spin selectivity to probe the organization of self-assembled α-helix peptide monolayers and examine the relation between structural and spin transfer phenomena. We show that the α-helix structure of oligopeptides based on alanine and aminoisobutyric acid is transformed to a more linear one upon cooling. This process is similar to the known cold denaturation in peptides, but here the self-assembled monolayer plays the role of the solvent. The structural change results in a flip in the direction of the electrical dipole moment of the adsorbed molecules. The dipole flip is accompanied by a concomitant change in the spin that is preferred in electron transfer through the molecules, observed via a new solid-state hybrid organic–inorganic device that is based on the Hall effect, but operates with no external magnetic field or magnetic material.

InAsSb∕GaSb heterostructure based mid-wavelength-infrared detector for high temperature operation

The properties of a midinfrared photodetector, based on a lattice matched n-N InAs0.91Sb0.09∕GaSb type-II heterostructure, were investigated. The relatively simple two layer structure shows very promising characteristics for sensitive and dual color infrared detection. I-V characteristics and spectral response were measured at the temperature range of 10–300K. High zero-bias resistance area product R0A of 2.5Ωcm2 was obtained at room temperature. The measured background limited infrared photodetection temperature was 180K corresponding to 4.1μm cutoff. Shot and Johnson noise limited detectivities corresponding to InAsSb absorption were measured to be 1.3×1010 and 4.9×109cmHz1∕2W−1 at 180 and 300K, respectively. An enhanced optical response with gain larger than unity was observed below 120K. Bias tunable dual color detection was demonstrated at all measured temperatures.

Self-assembling hybrid diamond–biological quantum devices

The realization of scalable arrangements of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond remains a key challenge on the way towards efficient quantum information processing, quantum simulation and quantum sensing applications. Although technologies based on implanting NV-centers in bulk diamond crystals or hybrid device approaches have been developed, they are limited by the achievable spatial resolution and by the intricate technological complexities involved in achieving scalability. We propose and demonstrate a novel approach for creating an arrangement of NV-centers, based on the self-assembling capabilities of biological systems and their beneficial nanometer spatial resolution. Here, a self-assembled protein structure serves as a structural scaffold for surface functionalized nanodiamonds, in this way allowing for the controlled creation of NV-structures on the nanoscale and providing a new avenue towards bridging the bio–nano interface. One-, two- as well as three-dimensional structures are within the scope of biological structural assembling techniques. We realized experimentally the formation of regular structures by interconnecting nanodiamonds using biological protein scaffolds. Based on the achievable NV-center distances of 11 nm, we evaluate the expected dipolar coupling interaction with neighboring NV-centers as well as the expected decoherence time. Moreover, by exploiting these couplings, we provide a detailed theoretical analysis on the viability of multiqubit quantum operations, suggest the possibility of individual addressing based on the random distribution of the NV intrinsic symmetry axes and address the challenges posed by decoherence and imperfect couplings. We then demonstrate in the last part that our scheme allows for the high-fidelity creation of entanglement, cluster states and quantum simulation applications.

Self-assembling of InAs nanocrystals on GaAs: The effect of electronic coupling and embedded gold nanoparticles on the photoluminescence

InAs∕ZnSe core/shell nanoparticles (NP) were self-assembled on GaAs substrates using different organic molecules of varying length and properties as linkers. The molecules provide control over the coupling and tunneling properties between the substrate and the nanocrystals. By coadsorbing of gold NP on the GaAs substrate, enhancement of the photoluminescence from the InAs NP was achieved. The enhancement factor was found to depend on the properties of the organic linkers.

Full Spectral and Angular Characterization of Highly Directional Emission from Nanocrystal Quantum Dots Positioned on Circular Plasmonic Lenses

We design a circular plasmonic lens for collimation of light emission from nanocrystal quantum dots at room temperature in the near IR spectral range. We implement a two-dimensional k-space imaging technique to obtain the full spectral-angular response of the surface plasmon resonance modes of the bare plasmonic lens. This method is also used to map the full spectral-angular emission from nanocrystal quantum dots positioned at the center of the circular plasmonic lens. A narrow directional emitting beam with a divergence angle of only ∼4.5° full width at half-maximum is achieved with a spectrally broad bandwidth of 30 nm. The spectrally resolved k-space imaging method allows us to get a direct comparison between the spectral-angular response of the resonant surface plasmon modes of the lens and the emission pattern of the quantum dots. This comparison gives a clear and detailed picture of the direct role of these resonant surface waves in directing the emission. The directional emission effect agrees well with calculations based on the coupled mode method. These results are a step toward fabricating an efficient room-temperature single photon source based on nanocrystal quantum dots.