Solid-State Magnetic Monopole Technology for Advancing Quantum Interaction
University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed a novel method for generating and manipulating plasmonic magnetic meron-like elements in solid-state materials. This innovation utilizes nano-lithographically designed structures and optical laser beams to create unique topological spin textures, providing new opportunities in quantum computing, spintronics, and lightwave electronics. This technology paves the way for advances in both classical and quantum physics through coherent quantum excitation transfer.
Description
This technology enables the creation of magnetic meron-like spin textures using surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on metal/dielectric interfaces. These textures are formed by focusing a plasmonic field into a vortex using an Archimedean coupling structure etched into a silver film. The interaction between the spin and orbital angular momentum of light with the nano-lithographic structures generates the meron-like textures. This process is pivotal for controlling electron spin and quantum states at ultra-small scales.Applications
Quantum ComputingSpintronics
Topological Phase Transitions
Lightwave Electronics
Advantages
This technology uniquely enables the precise and efficient generation and manipulation of magnetic meron-like spin textures in solid-state environments, allowing for unprecedented control over quantum states at nano-femto scales. By harnessing the interaction between spin and orbital angular momentum, this innovation significantly enhances the potential for applications in quantum computing, spintronics, and lightwave electronics. It also offers a scalable and versatile platform for studying topological phase transitions and could revolutionize the way we approach the design of advanced materials and quantum devices. The ability to create stable, controllable spin textures with such precision and efficiency is a major leap forward, reducing the complexity and cost associated with current technologies.Invention Readiness
The experimental setup includes a 100-nm thick silver film etched with an Archimedean spiral structure using focused ion beam lithography. The structure generates surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) when illuminated with a 550 nm linearly polarized laser. The SPPs create a vortex, forming meron-like spin textures. Using interferometric time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy (ITR-PEEM), the research team has successfully captured and analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution of these textures on a femtosecond timescale, confirming the formation and stability of the meron quasiparticlesIP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20240371540A1Related Publication(s)
Dai, Y., Zhou, Z., Ghosh, A., Kapoor, K., Dąbrowski, M., Kubo, A., Huang, C.-B., & Petek, H. (2022). Ultrafast microscopy of a twisted plasmonic spin skyrmion. Applied Physics Reviews, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0084482
Dai, Y., Zhou, Z., Ghosh, A. et al. Plasmonic topological quasiparticle on the nanometre and femtosecond scales. Nature 588, 616–619 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-3030-1