Project A08: Nature 2019

Thermal conductance of single-molecule junctions

Single-molecule junctions have been extensively used to probe properties as diverse as electrical conduction1,2,3, light emission4, thermoelectric energy conversion5,6, quantum interference7,8, heat dissipation9,10 and electronic noise11 at atomic and molecular scales. However, a key quantity of current interest—the thermal conductance of single-molecule junctions—has not yet been directly experimentally determined, owing to the challenge of…

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Project B06: Phys. Rev. B 2019

Magnetic resonance in defect spins mediated by spin waves

In search of two level quantum systems that implement a qubit, the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in diamond has been intensively studied for years. Despite favorable properties such as remarkable defect spin coherence times, the addressability of NV centers raises some technical issues. The coupling of a single NV center to an external driving field is limited to short distances, since an efficient coupling requires the NV to be separated…

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Project C10: Nature Nanotechnology 2019

Thermal skyrmion diffusion used in a reshuffler device

Magnetic skyrmions in thin films can be efficiently displaced with high speed by using spin-transfer torques1,2 and spin–orbit torques3,4,5 at low current densities. Although this favourable combination of properties has raised expectations for using skyrmions in devices6,7, only a few publications have studied the thermal effects on the skyrmion dynamics8,9,10. However, thermally induced skyrmion dynamics can be used for applications11 suc…

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Project A07: Phys. Rev. Lett. 2019

Spatial Modulation of Nonlinear Flexural Vibrations of Membrane Resonators

We study the vibrational motion of mechanical resonators under strong drive in the strongly nonlinear regime. By imaging the vibrational state of rectangular silicon nitride membrane resonators and by analyzing the frequency response using optical interferometry, we show that, upon increasing the driving strength, the membrane adopts a peculiar deflection pattern formed by concentric rings superimposed onto the drum head…

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Project C03: Phys. Rev. B 2019

Dynamical multistability in a quantum-dot laser

We study the dynamical multistability of a solid-state single-atom laser implemented in a quantum-dot spin valve. The system is formed by a resonator that interacts with a two-level system in a dot in contact with two ferromagnetic leads of antiparallel polarization. We show that a spin-polarized current provides high-efficiency pumping leading to regimes of multistable lasing, in which the Fock distribution of the oscillator displays a…

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Project C14: ASC Nano 2019

Bulk-like magnetic signature of individual Fe4H molecular magnets on graphene

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) incorporate key properties that make them promising candidates for the emerging field of spintronics. Here we employ inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) to address the magnetic properties in single Fe4 complexes that are adsorbed in a highly ordered arrangement on graphene/Ir(111). Our findings confirm a retained molecular magnetism of the Fe4H complex at the local scale and…

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Project B08: Faraday Discussions 2019

Dynamics of electron-emission currents in plasmonic gaps induced by strong fields

The dynamics of ultrafast electron currents triggered by femtosecond laser pulse irradiation of narrow gaps in a plasmonic dimer is studied using quantum mechanical Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT). The electrons are injected into the gap due to the optical field emission from the surfaces of the metal nanoparticles across the junction. Further evolution of the electron currents in the gap is…

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Project C13: Nano Lett. 2018

Large conductance variations in a mechanosensitive single-molecule junction

An appealing feature of molecular electronics is the possibility of inducing changes in the orbital structure through external stimuli. This can provide functionality on the single-molecule level that can be employed for sensing or switching purposes if the associated conductance changes are sizable upon application of the stimuli. Here, we show that the room-temperature conductance of a spring-like molecule can be…

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Project B02: Nano Lett. 2018

Efficient Emission Enhancement of Single CdSe/CdS/PMMA Quantum Dots through Controlled Near-Field Coupling to Plasmonic Bullseye Resonators

A strong increase of spontaneous radiative emission from colloidally synthesized CdSe/CdS/PMMA hybrid particles is achieved when manipulated into plasmonic bullseye resonators with the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). This type of antenna provides a broadband resonance, which may be precisely matched to the exciton ground state energy in the…

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