The frontier of information processing lies in nanoscience and nanotechnology research. At the nanoscale, materials, and structures can be engineered to exhibit interesting new properties, some based on quantum mechanical effects. Our research focuses on developing nanofabrication technology at the few-nanometer length scale. We use these technologies to push the envelope of what is possible with photonic and electrical devices, focusing in particular on superconductive and free-electron devices. Our research combines electrical engineering, physics, and materials science and helps extend the limits of nanoscale engineering.
The nanocryotron: A superconducting-nanowire three-terminal electrothermal device
Recent QNN News
New publication: “Single-photon imager based on a superconducting nanowire delay line”
We demonstrate a scalable single-photon imager using a single continuous superconducting nanowire that is not only a single-photon detector but also functions as an efficient microwave delay line. In this context, photon-detection pulses are guided in the nanowire and...
New publication: “A nanocryotron comparator can connect single-flux-quantum circuits to conventional electronics”
We demonstrate the use of a single three-terminal superconducting-nanowire device, called the nanocryotron (nTron), as a digital comparator to combine SFQ circuits with mature semiconductor circuits such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuits....
New publication: “Photoemission from Plasmonic Nanoparticles”
We demonstrate strong-field, carrier-envelope-phase-sensitive photoemission from arrays of tailored metallic nanoparticles, and we show the influence of the nanoparticle geometry and the plasmon resonance on the phase-sensitive response. Additionally, from a...
New publication: “Using Geometry to Sense Current”
We describe a superconducting three-terminal Y-shaped device that uses a simple geometric effect known as current crowding to sense the flow of current and actuate a readout signal. A complete description of the publication may be found here. Citation: Adam N....
Adam McCaughan awarded 2016 Jin-Au Kong Award for outstanding PhD thesis in EE
Congratulations to Adam McCaughan for being awarded the 2016 Jin-Au Kong Award for outstanding PhD thesis in electrical engineering. Adam's thesis, titled, "Superconducting Thin Film Nanoelectronics," describes his work on developing novel superconducting devices by...