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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 505 records · Page 28
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Multi-site integrated optical addressing of trapped ions

Abstract One of the most effective ways to advance the performance of quantum computers and quantum sensors is to increase the number of qubits or quantum resources in the system. A major technical challenge that must be solved to realize this goal for trapped-ion systems is scaling the delivery of optical signals to many individual ions. In this paper we demonstrate an approach employing waveguides and multi-mode interferometer splitters to optically address multiple 171 Yb + ions in a surface trap by delivering all wavelengths required for full qubit control. Measurements of hyperfine spectra and Rabi flopping were performed on the E2 clock transition, using integrated waveguides for delivering the light needed for Doppler cooling, state preparation, coherent operations, and detection. We describe the use of splitters to address multiple ions using a single optical input per wavelength and use them to demonstrate simultaneous Rabi flopping on two different transitions occurring at distinct trap sites. This work represents an important step towards the realization of scalable integrated photonics for atomic clocks and trapped-ion quantum information systems.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Plasmon and Photon Excitations in Two-Dimensional and Layered Materials

Light-matter interactions in layered and two-dimensional materials allows one to achieve extreme optical confinement approaching the atomic scale, enabling exploration of new materials phenomena. Layered narrow bandgap and zero bandgap materials, such as black phosphorus and graphene, support unusual and intriguing quantum-confined electronic states in thin layers and surface electronic states. The incomplete screening of applied electrostatic fields in ultrathin materials permits the exploration of light-matter interactions at high electric fields and over a wide range of carrier densities in a single sample, facilitating exploration of the optical and plasmonic properties of ultrathin and layered materials under electrochemical potential control. We have made advances in understanding the nature of optical interband and intraband plasmon excitations in layered materials such as graphene, black phosphorus, molybdenum diselenide, and molybdenum ditelluride.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Bragg grating inscription in photosensitive materials by an optical replication process

This paper examines the feasibility of producing multiplexed Bragg gratings for use as diffractive optical elements (DOEs) by coherent optical replication of a surface-relief phase grating into thick-film photosensitive materials. The use of such DOEs in light guide plates (LGPs) for optical imaging systems ensures energy-efficient light input into and output from LGPs and allows one to minimise their weight and size. We present simulation results for the interference structure fabrication process and recording of a series of multiplexed diffraction gratings in photosensitive materials. (paper)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2026

Altermagnetic polar metallic phase in ultrathin epitaxially strained RuO 2 films

Altermagnetism refers to a wide class of magnetic orders featuring magnetic sublattices with opposite spins related by rotational symmetries, resulting in nontrivial spin splitting and magnetic multipoles. However, the direct observation of the altermagnetic transition remains elusive. Here, by combining theoretical analysis, electrical transport, X-ray, and optical spectroscopies, we establish a phase diagram in hybrid molecular beam epitaxy-grown RuO 2 /TiO 2 (110) films, mapping symmetries along with altermagnetic/electronic/structural phase transitions as functions of film thickness and temperature. This features an altermagnetic metallic polar phase in epitaxially strained 2 nm films, suggesting a potential link between polar metals and altermagnetic materials. Such a clear signature of a magnetic phase transition at ~500 K is observed exclusively in ultrathin strained films, unlike in bulk RuO 2 single crystals. These results highlight the power of epitaxial heterostructure engineering to induce altermagnetism in systems initially nonmagnetic, opening avenues for realizing emergent quantum phases with multifunctional properties.

RuO2 thin film↗
DOE OSTI2020

Sputtered p-Type Cu x Zn 1– x S Back Contact to CdTe Solar Cells

As thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells gain prominence, one particular challenge is optimizing contacts and their interfaces to transfer charge without losses in efficiency. Back contact recombination is still significant and will prevent CdTe solar technology from reaching its full potential in device efficiency, and transparent back contacts have not been developed for bifacial solar technology or multijunction solar cells. To address these challenges, here we investigate sputtered Cu x Zn 1– x S as a p-type semi-transparent back contact material to thin-film polycrystalline CdTe solar cells at Cu concentrations x = 0.30, 0.45, and 0.60. This material is selected for its high hole conductivity (160–2120 S cm –1 ), wide optical band gap (2.25–2.75 eV), and variable ionization potential (approximately 6–7 eV) that can be aligned to that of CdTe. We report that without device optimization, CdTe solar cells with these Cu x Zn 1– x S back contacts perform as well as control cells with standard ZnTe:Cu back contacts. We observe no reduction in external quantum efficiency, low contact barrier heights of approximately 0.3 eV, and carrier lifetimes on par with those of baseline CdTe. These cells are relatively stable over one year in air, with V OC and efficiency of the x = 0.30 cell decreasing by only 1 and 3%, respectively. Using scanning electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy to investigate the Cu x Zn 1– x S/CdTe interface, we demonstrate that the Cu x Zn 1– x S layer segregates into a bilayer of Cu-Te-S and Zn-Cd-S, and thermodynamic reaction calculations support these findings. Despite its bilayer formation, the back contact still functions well. This investigation explains some of the physical mechanisms governing the device stack, inspires future work to understand interfacial chemistry and charge transfer, and elicits optimization to achieve higher-efficiency CdTe cells.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Light storage, retrieval, and controllable interference in an atomic tripod system

Highly efficient quantum memories are essential for advancing quantum information processing technologies, including scalable quantum computing and quantum networks. We experimentally demonstrate a light storage and retrieval protocol in a tripod system using an ensemble of laser-cooled 87 Rb atoms. The tripod system, which consists of three ground states and an excited state, offers rich dynamics: its use to coherently store and retrieve a weak probe pulse in the 87 Rb 𝐹 = 1 ground-state manifold leads to the interference of two spin-wave excitations during storage time that translate to an interference in the peak intensity of the retrieved probe pulse. Our work shows that these interferences, which manifest when varying the pulse sequence or energy level structure, can be controlled experimentally by varying the storage time, optical phase, and magnetic field strength. Theoretical simulations exhibit excellent agreement with the experimental results. In conclusion, this work demonstrates the rich dynamics and versatile capabilities of atomic tripod systems for light storage and retrieval, with key advantages over conventional Λ systems, highlighting the potential of atomic tripod systems for applications in quantum information processing, quantum synchronization, and atomic memory protocols.

Coherent control↗
DOE OSTI2022

Heralded Multiplexed High-Efficiency Cascaded Source of Dual-Rail Entangled Photon Pairs Using Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion

Deterministic sources of high-fidelity entangled qubit pairs encoded in the dual-rail photonic basis, i.e., presence of a single photon in one of two orthogonal modes, are a key enabling technology of many applications of quantum information processing, including high-rate, high-fidelity quantum communications over long distances. The most popular and mature sources of such photonic entanglement, e.g., those that leverage spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) or spontaneous four-wave mixing, generate an entangled (so-called continuous-variable) quantum state that contains contributions from high-order photon terms that lie outside the span of the dual-rail basis, which is detrimental to most applications. One often uses low pump power to mitigate the effects of those high-order terms. However, that reduces the pair generation rate, and the source becomes inherently probabilistic. We investigate a cascaded source that performs a linear-optical entanglement swap between two SPDC sources, to generate a heralded photonic entangled state that has a higher fidelity (to the ideal Bell state) compared to a free-running SPDC source. Furthermore, with the Bell swap providing a heralding trigger, we show how to build a multiplexed source, which despite reasonable switching losses and detector loss and noise, yields a fidelity versus success probability trade-off of a high-efficiency source of high-fidelity dual-rail photonic entanglement. We find, however, that there is a threshold of 1.5 dB of loss per switch, beyond which multiplexing hurts the fidelity versus success probability trade-off.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS2015

Scintillating Quantum Dots for Imaging X-rays (SQDIX) for Aircraft Inspection

Scintillation is the process currently employed by conventional x-ray detectors to create x-ray images. Scintillating quantum dots or nano-crystals (StQDs) are a novel, nanometer-scale material that upon excitation by x-rays, re-emit the absorbed energy as visible light. StQDs theoretically have higher output efficiency than conventional scintillating materials and are more environmental friendly. This paper will present the characterization of several critical elements in the use of StQDs that have been performed along a path to the use of this technology in wide spread x-ray imaging. Initial work on the SQDIX system has shown great promise to create state-of-the-art sensors using StQDs as a sensor material. In addition, this work also demonstrates a high degree of promise using StQDs in microstructured fiber optics. Using the microstructured fiber as a light guide could greatly increase the capture efficiency a StQDs based imaging sensor.

Burke, Eric↗
DOE OSTI2025

Twisted Tin‐Chloride Perovskite Single‐Crystal Heterostructures

Self-assembly affords simpler synthetic routes to heterostructures compared with manual layer-by-layer stacking, yet controlling interlayer twist angles in a bulk solid remains an outstanding challenge. We report two new single-crystal heterostructures: (Sn 2 Cl 2 )(CYS) 2 SnCl 4 (CYS = + NH 3 (CH 2 ) 2 S – ; Sn_CYS) and (Sn 2 Cl 2 )(SeCYS) 2 SnCl 4 (SeCYS = + NH 3 (CH 2 ) 2 Se – ; Sn_SeCYS) synthesized in solution, with alternating perovskite and intergrowth layers. Notably, compared to the recently reported lead analog, (Pb 2 Cl 2 )(CYS) 2 PbCl 4 (Pb_CYS), the tin heterostructures feature a twist between the perovskite and intergrowth layers. We trace this twist to local distortions at the Sn centers, which change the interfacial lattice-matching requirements compared to those of the Pb analog. Electronic band structure calculations show that the striking differences in the relative energies of perovskite- and intergrowth-derived bands in Sn_CYS and Pb_CYS arise from structural and not compositional differences. The structural anisotropy of Sn_CYS is also reflected in a large in-plane photoluminescence linear anisotropy ratio. Interfacial strain further affords differential incorporation of Pb into the perovskite and intergrowth layers of the Sn heterostructures, resulting in redshifted optical absorption onsets. Thus, we posit that local structural distortions may be exploited to manipulate the twist angle and interfacial strain in bulk heterostructures, providing a new handle for tuning the band alignments of bulk quantum-well electronic structures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

A tweezer array with 6,100 highly coherent atomic qubits

Optical tweezer arrays have transformed atomic and molecular physics, now forming the backbone for a range of leading experiments in quantum computing, simulation and metrology. Typical experiments trap tens to hundreds of atomic qubits and, recently, systems with around 1,000 atoms were realized without defining qubits or demonstrating coherent control. However, scaling to thousands of atomic qubits with long coherence times and low-loss and high-fidelity imaging is an outstanding challenge and critical for progress in quantum science, particularly towards quantum error correction (QEC). Here we experimentally realize an array of optical tweezers trapping more than 6,100 neutral atoms in around 12,000 sites, simultaneously surpassing state-of-the-art performance for several metrics that underpin the success of the platform. Specifically, while scaling to such a large number of atoms, we demonstrate a coherence time of 12.6(1) s, a record for hyperfine qubits in an optical tweezer array. We show room-temperature trapping lifetimes of about 23 min, enabling record-high imaging survival of 99.98952(1)% with an imaging fidelity of more than 99.99%. We present a plan for zone-based quantum computing and demonstrate necessary coherence-preserving qubit transport and pick-up/drop-off operations on large spatial scales, characterized through interleaved randomized benchmarking. Our results, along with recent developments, indicate that universal quantum computing and QEC with thousands to tens of thousands of physical qubits could be a near-term prospect.

atomic and molecular physics↗
DOE OSTI2026

Shuttling Majorana zero modes in disordered and noisy topological superconductors

The braiding of Majorana zero modes (MZMs) forms the fundamental building block for topological quantum computation. Braiding protocols which involve the physical exchange of MZMs are typically envisioned on a network of topological superconducting wires. An important component of these protocols is the transport of MZMs, which can be performed by using electric gates to locally tune sections of the wire between topologically trivial and nontrivial phases. In this work, we numerically simulate this transport by tuning a single section of a superconducting wire which contains either disorder (uncorrelated and correlated) or noise. We focus on the impact of these additional effects on the diabatic error, which describes unwanted transitions between the ground state and excited states. We show that the behavior of the average diabatic error is predominantly controlled by the statistics of the minimum bulk energy gap which is suppressed in the presence of disorder. The increase in diabatic error can be several orders of magnitude and is most deleterious when the disorder correlation length is a finite fraction of the transport distance and negligible when these lengths are far apart. In the presence of noise, the diabatic error is significantly enhanced due to optical transitions which depend on the minimum bulk energy gap as well as the frequency modes present in the noise. The results presented here serve to further characterize the diabatic error in disordered and noisy settings, which are important considerations in practical implementations of physical braiding schemes.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Tunable interaction between excitons and hybridized magnons in a layered semiconductor

The interaction between distinct excitations in solids is of both fundamental interest and technological importance. One example of such interactions is coupling between an exciton, a Coulomb bound electron-hole pair, and a magnon, a collective spin excitation. The recent emergence of van der Waals magnetic semiconductors1 provides a powerful platform for exploring these exciton-magnon interactions and their fundamental properties, such as strong correlation2, as well as their photo-spintronic and quantum transduction3 applications. Here we demonstrate precise control of coherent exciton-magnon interactions in the layered magnetic semiconductor CrSBr. We show that by controlling the direction of applied magnetic fields relative to the crystal axes, and thus the rotational symmetry of the magnetic system4, we can tune not only the exciton coupling to the bright magnon, but also to an optically dark mode via magnon hybridization. The exciton-magnon coupling and associated magnon dispersion curves can be further modulated by applying a uniaxial strain. At the critical strain, a dispersionless dark magnon band emerges. Our results demonstrate unprecedented control of the opto-mechanical-magnonic coupling, and a step towards the predictable and controllable implementation of hybrid quantum magnonics.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Solving tricky quantum optics problems with assistance from large language models

The capabilities of modern artificial intelligence (AI) as a “scientific collaborator” are explored by engaging it with three nuanced problems in quantum optics: state populations in optical pumping, resonant transitions between decaying states (the Burshtein effect), and degenerate mirrorless lasing. Through iterative dialogue, the authors observe that AI models–when prompted and corrected–can reason through complex scenarios, refine their answers, and provide expert-level guidance, closely resembling the interaction with an adept colleague. The findings highlight that AI can democratize access to sophisticated modeling and analysis, shifting the focus in scientific practice from technical mastery to the generation and testing of ideas, and reducing the time for completing research tasks from days to minutes.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Nanodiamonds in Advancing Biomedical Sciences

Nanodiamonds (NDs), tetrahedral carbon frameworks with size ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers, have gained growing attention in recent years due to their distinct optical, thermal, and mechanical properties compared to other carbon nanomaterials (e.g., graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon dots). Combined with a high surface-to-volume ratio and tunable and chemically versatile surfaces, these support broad applications across catalysis, electronics, and life sciences. Moreover, the biocompatible characteristics of NDs enable their controllable interfacial interactions with biological systems, positioning them as excellent candidates for advancing cutting-edge biomedical sciences, particularly through the engineering of efficient material-biointerfaces that facilitate optimal interactions with biological systems. Among various forms of NDs, fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) have emerged as some of the most impactful and rapidly advancing materials, demonstrating strong potential in ultrasensitive spin-enhanced bioimaging, high-precision biosensing, traceable drug delivery, and quantum-enabled biomedical technologies. This Perspective introduces the key principles underlying NDs and FNDs, including their structural properties, synthesis methods, and surface functionalization strategies. It also highlights emerging biomedical applications of NDs and FNDs, with particular emphasis on neurological disorders. Last, the article discusses current challenges in advancing NDs as a multifunctional platform for neural therapies with translational potential toward clinical trials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Theory predicts 2D chiral polaritons based on achiral Fabry–Pérot cavities using apparent circular dichroism

Abstract Realizing polariton states with high levels of chirality offers exciting prospects for quantum information, sensing, and lasing applications. Such chirality must emanate from either the involved optical resonators or the quantum emitters. Here, we theoretically demonstrate a rare opportunity for realizing polaritons with so-called 2D chirality by strong coupling of the optical modes of (high finesse) achiral Fabry–Pérot cavities with samples exhibiting “apparent circular dichroism” (ACD). ACD is a phenomenon resulting from an interference between linear birefringence and dichroic interactions. By introducing a quantum electrodynamical theory of ACD, we identify the design rules based on which 2D chiral polaritons can be produced, and their chirality can be optimized.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

The pathfinder X-Ray axion telescope for the International Axion Observatory (IAXO) and axion searches at the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST)

The axion, a hypothetical pseudo-scalar particle proposed by Peccei and Quinn to resolve the strong CP problem in quantum chromodynamics, remains one of the most compelling dark matter candidates. Axions and Axion-Like Particles (ALPs) are characterized by a broad and largely unconstrained parameter space in mass and coupling strength, motivating extensive experimental searches. The International Axion Observatory (IAXO) is a next-generation axion helioscope designed to achieve over an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity to the axion-photon coupling constant gaγ relative to previous experiments such as the CERN Axion Solar Telescope (CAST). IAXO will employ large-scale superconducting magnets, precision x-ray optics, and ultra-low-background detectors to search for solar axions produced primarily via the Primakoff effect. This work presents the design and performance of the IAXO pathfinder x-ray optic, a technological demonstrator that validated the optical concepts for IAXO through axion searches at CAST. Comprehensive ray-tracing simulations and experimental measurements were conducted to assess the optic's effective area, detection efficiency, and background suppression capabilities. Deployed at CAST in conjunction with Micromegas and GridPix detectors, the Pathfinder demonstrated record-setting sensitivity to both gaγ and the axion-electron coupling gae, establishing the most stringent laboratory constraints on solar axions to date. These results confirm the viability of the IAXO optical design and detector concept, providing a critical technological benchmark that informs the ongoing development of the BabyIAXO and full-scale IAXO telescopes.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS2011

The QWIP Focal Plane Assembly for NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission

The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) is a QWIP based instrument intended to supplement the Operational Land Imager (OLI) for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM). The TIRS instrument is a dual channel far infrared imager with the two bands centered at 10.8 m and 12.0 m. The focal plane assembly (FPA) consists of three 640x512 GaAs Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) arrays precisely mounted to a silicon carrier substrate that is mounted on an invar baseplate. The two spectral bands are defined by bandpass filters mounted in close proximity to the detector surfaces. The focal plane operating temperature is 43K. The QWIP arrays are hybridized to Indigo ISC9803 readout integrated circuits (ROICs). Two varieties of QWIP detector arrays are being developed for this project, a corrugated surface structure QWIP and a grating surface structure QWIP. This paper will describe the TIRS system noise equivalent temperature difference sensitivity as it affects the QWIP focal plane performance requirements: spectral response, dark current, conversion efficiency, read noise, temperature stability, pixel uniformity, optical crosstalk and pixel yield. Additional mechanical constraints as well as qualification through Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) will also be discussed.

Jhabvala, M.↗
NASA NTRS2010

The QWIP Focal Plane Assembly for NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission

The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) is a QWIP based instrument intended to supplement the Operational Land Imager (OLI) for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM). The TIRS instrument is a dual channel far infrared imager with the two bands centered at 10.8[mu]m and 12.0[mu]m. The focal plane assembly (FPA) consists of three 640x512 GaAs Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) arrays precisely mounted to a silicon carrier substrate that is mounted on an invar baseplate. The two spectral bands are defined by bandpass filters mounted in close proximity to the detector surfaces. The focal plane operating temperature is 43K. The QWIP arrays are hybridized to Indigo ISC9803 readout integrated circuits (ROICs). Two varieties of QWIP detector arrays are being developed for this project, a corrugated surface structure QWIP and a grating surface structure QWIP. This paper will describe the TIRS system noise equivalent temperature difference sensitivity as it affects the QWIP focal plane performance requirements: spectral response, dark current, conversion efficiency, read noise, temperature stability, pixel uniformity, optical crosstalk and pixel yield. Additional mechanical constraints as well as qualification through Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6) will also be discussed.

Jhabvala, M↗