
NSF Org: |
PHY Division Of Physics |
Recipient: |
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Initial Amendment Date: | September 11, 2018 |
Latest Amendment Date: | September 11, 2018 |
Award Number: | 1839165 |
Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
Program Manager: |
Robert Forrey
PHY Division Of Physics MPS Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences |
Start Date: | September 15, 2018 |
End Date: | August 31, 2023 (Estimated) |
Total Intended Award Amount: | $1,000,000.00 |
Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $1,000,000.00 |
Funds Obligated to Date: |
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History of Investigator: |
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Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
3112 LEE BUILDING COLLEGE PARK MD US 20742-5100 (301)405-6269 |
Sponsor Congressional District: |
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Primary Place of Performance: |
College Park MD US 20742-0001 |
Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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Parent UEI: |
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NSF Program(s): | OFFICE OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AC |
Primary Program Source: |
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Program Reference Code(s): |
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Program Element Code(s): |
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Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.049 |
ABSTRACT
This project will unite complementary expertise in quantum materials chemistry, theoretical physics, and quantum information science through an integrated collaboration involving two departments at the University of Maryland (Chemistry and Biochemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering) and the UMD-NIST Joint Quantum Institute. It will also leverage ongoing collaborations with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) on photophysics and with IBM on electronics interfacing. The project will promote the progress of science by advancing fundamental understanding of excitons at trapping defects and realizing a single-photon source that operates at room temperature and can be driven electrically. In addition to advancing an emerging frontier across chemistry, physics, quantum information science, and engineering, the work in this project is anticipated to also have a positive societal impact. First, the work will contribute to the development of next-generation computing and information technology by building interfaces between electronics and single-photon optics. Second, the project will provide exciting opportunities to engage students and reach a broader community. Particularly, this collaborative project will provide unique training opportunities for the next-generation workforce in quantum information science and technology through close collaborations with IBM and LANL, which are expected to enrich graduate training in this quickly evolving interdisciplinary field.
This RAISE project will focus on probing and controlling the radiative recombination of electrons and holes at organic color-centers with the goal of achieving electrically driven single-photon sources that work at room temperature. Because the color centers are directly created in a carbon nanotube semiconductor host that can be controlled with established semiconductor technologies, electrons and holes can be electrically injected and directed to the color center where they recombine to produce single photons. This hypothesis is strongly supported by preliminary results and will be fully verified by experimental and theoretical efforts. The work is potentially groundbreaking and technologically transformative. First, organic color-centers provide a chemical pathway to synthesize high-quality single-photon sources. Unlike other color centers, which typically occur as native defects, organic color-centers can be synthetically created with molecular precision, thus opening vast opportunities for chemical innovation. Second, organic color-centers act as a two-level system in a semiconductor, effectively providing a "desktop atomic physics" laboratory for studying quasi-particles such as excitons and trions in trapping defects. Third, single-photon sources that can be driven electrically and work at room temperature will be an enabling element for quantum information science. Single photons are ideal quantum bits because they exhibit nearly infinite coherence time and can propagate over long distances. However, currently available solid-state single-photon sources suffer from limited scalability. Organic color-centers can be synthetically created in a semiconductor with molecular precision, opening up the possibility to address this significant challenge.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Intellectual Merit. This RAISE project leads the way in developing room-temperature single-photon sources, bringing together the fields of chemistry, physics, and quantum information science in groundbreaking research. Our work centers on organic color-centers (OCCs), a novel method for producing single photons. Diverging from traditional methods, OCCs leverage organic chemistry for synthetic creation, revolutionizing the synthesis of high-quality single photon sources. This advancement transforms chemical methodologies and opens up new avenues in semiconductor physics, akin to a "desktop atomic physics" laboratory. Our research significantly impacts quantum information science by developing scalable single-photon sources operable at room temperature. The project’s intellectual merit is evident in its contribution to advancing theoretical knowledge and catalyzing technological transformations in quantum processing and communication technologies. The team’s efforts have culminated in publishing 14 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals, including ACS Nano, ACS Central Science, Journal of Applied Physics, J. Am. Chem. Soc., Nature Reviews | Chemistry, Nature Communications, Nano Letters, Chemistry of Materials, and others.
Broader Impacts. Our project lays the groundwork for the future of quantum computing and information technology, merging electronics with single-photon optics in a crucial first step. On the educational front, the project has made a significant impact with an online course on basic quantum information science, reaching around 100,000 students worldwide. We have created a dynamic, interdisciplinary training environment for a select group of graduate students from diverse fields—chemistry, physics, electrical engineering, and materials science. This training extends beyond academic knowledge, imparting collaborative and practical skills essential for the readily advancing field of quantum science. The students’ involvement in cutting-edge research provides them with hands-on experience in advanced technologies, preparing them as future innovators. Additionally, the project facilitates collaborations with leading experts in quantum science, offering exceptional mentorship and broadening the students' perspectives. These efforts have led to notable achievements, such as Ph.D. graduates securing prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, awards and placements with industrial leaders, showcasing the effectiveness of our training program and the high caliber of researchers it produces.
Last Modified: 12/17/2023
Modified by: Yuhuang Wang
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