Photonics & Telecommunications

Quantum Dots and Photonics to Improve Information Technology

Quantum dots are nanoscale semiconductor particles that exhibit quantized electron and hole states owing to quantum confinement effects that occur when the physical size of the nanocrystals are smaller than the bulk exciton Bohr radius. In these particles the transition energy spacing between states is a function of the size and composition of the quantum dots themselves. The oscillator strength is similarly enhanced by the quantum confinement effects resulting in increased nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refractive index in comparison to the bulk semiconductor of the same materials. Therefore, quantum dots make an attractive opportunity to develop optical switches, modulators, and other devices that rely upon nonlinear optics.

Evident Technologies synthesizes quantum dot colloids that have strong transitions at the important 1310nm and 1550nm telecommunication bands that have been incorporated into or onto optical polymers, semiconductor polymers, microcavities, photonics crystals, and even semiconductor devices. Quantum dot nanocomposite materials and associated devices continue to be investigated by numerous researchers with the aim of creating faster, cheaper, and more powerful optical telecommunication components.