SANDiE Partner P10

Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Two research groups at Heriot-Watt Univeristy are integrated into SANDiE, the Nano-optics group headed by Richard Warburton, and the MBE group headed by Kevin Prior.

The Nano-optics group is expert in optical characterization of semiconductor nanostructures, particularly in across gap spectroscopy of individual nanostructures. The MBE group concentrates on the materials science of II-VI semiconductors, focusing presently on nanostructures using the materials ZnSe, CdSe, possibly with Mn incorporation, and the novel barrier material MgS .

The Nano-optics group is contributing to SANDiE by interacting with various partners in the Network who are expert in nanostructure fabrication. The group is carrying out detailed spectroscopic experiments at the individual nanostructure level, for instance on InAs/GaAs quantum dots and quantum rings. A particular feature is the development of laser spectroscopy techniques, allowing a transfer of all the benefits of laser spectroscopy to semiconductor nanostructures (access to complete lineshape for instance). This new advance is being exploited with SANDiE partners. A further feature is to perform single nanostructure spectroscopy in a magnetic field. The Nano-optics group is also developing a tunable micro-cavity. While the development is at an early stage, the technology is promising for a single photon emitter based on a single semiconductor nanostructure embedded in the cavity, and is being pursued within the SANDiE network.

The MBE group is interacting within SANDiE on the structural characteristics of the II-VI-based nanostructures by combining the materials expertise at Heriot-Watt with advanced structural characterization techniques provided by other SANDiE partners. The group is also supplying spectroscopy groups with II-VI nanostructures, which emit conveniently in the visible spectral range. Finally, the group is pursuing the development of novel semiconductor nanostructures based around the material MgS. At Heriot-Watt, MgS can be grown in the zincblende crystal structure and with its very large band gap, ~5 eV, is ideal for the barrier of semiconductor nanostructures and possibly also for new self-assembly procedures.

Homepage of Nano-optics group

Homepage of MBE group

last update: 28 February 2019, A. Weber