Laboratory for Nano-Optical Characterization at Low Temperature

The project leader, Prof. Weman, was hired in Sept. 2005 at IET/IME in the field of "Nano-electronics, -photonics & -magnetism" as part of the NTNU NanoLab establishment. Weman is now planning to set up a laboratory at IET that would enable low-temperatur e optical, electrical and magnetical characterization of various nanostructures and nanodevices. A 50m2 laboratory has been dedicated for this purpose at IET. The material systems that Weman intend to study in this lab will initially be on semiconductor n anowires (NWs) for photonic and bio-sensor applications. This work will be done in collaboration with Prof. Fimland, who will be involved in the growth of the NWs. This is a new project that Weman and Fimland initiated in 2006 (NFR FRINAT and NANOMAT prop osals submitted 2006 by Profs. Weman/Fimland/Skaar). Specific tasks in Weman's project will be focused towards an understanding of photonic AlGaInAsSb-based NWs for the near-infrared wavelength region (~ 700 nm to 1600 nm). These wavelengths are particula rly interesting for applications since it involves the optical fiber communication standards (1300 nm & 1550 nm), as well as wavelengths useful for bio-sensing. The goals of this project will be to achieve a detailed understanding of single hetero-structu red GaAs/GaAsSb NWs and to fabricate efficient photonic NW devices. In parallel with this project Ass. Prof. Worren at IFY, has recently launched a project on the growth and characterization of semiconductor quantum dots for 3rd generation highly efficien t solar cells (NANOMAT-ISP submitted NFR 2006 by Profs. Worren/Weman et al.) To be able to investigate single nanowires/quantum dots in the above projects, we need to make low temperature photoluminescence (PL), magneto-PL, electro-luminescence (EL), magn eto-EL imaging and spectroscopy with a resolution less than the optical wavelength. The proposed SCOM will be an essential tool here and will complement optical characterization equipment that exists at NTNU.