Abstract-Terahertz and Gigahertz Emission from an All-Silicon Nanocrystal

Holger Vach
http://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.197401

Based on first-principles calculations, we predict the use of pure silicon nanocrystals as nano-oscillators in the giga- and terahertz region. Small- and large-amplitude, one-dimensional vibrations are observed. The former are spontaneously excited thermally at frequencies around 3 THz. Large-amplitude vibrations originate from oscillations between the inversion geometries of the nanocrystal and can be caused either classically by an external excitation or by quantum tunneling. The latter causes a ground-state splitting of 4.2 GHz, suggesting the use of the proposed nanocrystals as laser elements in a configuration analogous to that of the ammonia maser.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.197401

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• Published 14 May 2014
• Received 13 May 2013

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