Nanophotonics and Quantum Optics of Hybrid Nanoparticle Systems: Applications and Fundamentals

Dear Colleagues,

Hybrid systems consisting of nanomaterials with fundamentally different materials and optical properties are appealing hosts for exploration of new areas of physics, chemistry, and biology. One of the unique features of these systems is their capabilities to combine such properties to create uncharted areas of research and applications. Currently intense research activities are focused towards bio-functionalization of nanomaterials, control of cell behavior through nano-engineered materials, and hybrid systems consisting of biomolecules and inorganic materials such as metallic nanoparticles and semiconductor quantum dots. A considerable amount of effort has already been devoted to explore applications of such systems for biological and chemical sensors, control of emission and lifetime of quantum dots, reversible responsive nanoparticle systems, etc. Recent research has also explored the possibility of formation of chirality in metallic nanoparticle systems via conjugation with chiral molecules or their unique assemblies. The potential of these investigations in terms of creation of novel sciences are endless and their applications can be quite remarkable.

Another appealing feature of hybrid nanomaterials resides in the way one can use quantum coherence combined the fundamental resonances of quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles to create collective resonances unlike excitons or plasmons. In such systems one can generate Rabi oscillations under the conditions that the quantum dots by themselves cannot, use quantum coherence to regulate energy transfer been nanomaterials, enhance second harmonic generations, or to generate plasmonic electromagnetically induced transparency wherein plasmon absorption of metallic nanoparticles undergoes dramatically changes and even becomes insignificant at a given wavelength range.

Although quantum optics of quantum dot-metallic nanoparticle systems is still in its infancy and many fundamental issues, such as impact of quantum plasmonic effects or treatment of quantum dots and/or metallic nanoparticles decoherence, have remained open questions, the rewards of these investigations are unparalleled and potentially ground breaking. Considering the fact that such systems can be conjugated with biological molecules, hybrid nanomaterials can offer fresh ground for multidisciplinary research with counterintuitive impact and device concepts.

Dr. Seyed Sadeghi
Guest Editor

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