Are you a highly-motivated physicist with a strong affinity for nanotechnology and optoelectronic experiments? We are seeking an excellent and ambitious PhD candidate to perform fundamental research at the interface of nanophotonics and two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials.
Transition-metal dichalcogenides are semiconducting materials that are layered like a stack of paper in one dimension, bound only by van-der-Waals forces. In the monolayer limit, these 2D materials have a direct optical bandgap and show a very large exciton binding energy due to the lack of dielectric screening. As such, these materials are atomically-thin (less than 1 nm thick) and exhibit a very strong quantum-mechanical exciton resonance – even at room temperature. This exciton resonance is highly sensitive to external stimuli, including electric fields, dielectric surrounding, strain, and changes in carrier density. In this project, we will employ these external stimuli to gain control over the very strong light-matter interaction of the excitons, and manipulate the flow of light at the nanoscale.
First, we will study the solid-state physics of light interacting with exciton resonances exposed to external fields and charge densities at low temperatures. Second, we will use cleanroom-fabricated nanoscale devices to realize active control over light scattering by excitons in 2D semiconductors. Finally, we will leverage this active control over the excitonic light scattering to demonstrate dynamically-tunable nanophotonic devices. The results of this work could be used to develop a new class of atomically-thin optical coatings, in which we tune the optical functionality through manipulation of the exciton resonance.
Closing date: 15 February 2020
For more information, or to apply online, click here.