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The research contained within this thesis concerns the detection, identification and effect of charge noise on quantum dot systems. In the first research chapter we study the cross correlation between pairs of exciton qubits subject to a common fluctuating charge environment, whose dynamics are solved using a transfer matrix approach. Our results show that we are able to discern features showing whether or not the charges interact with both quantum dots simultaneously i.e., form a correlated noise source. We find that qubits in a common charge environment display photon bunching, if both dots are driven on resonance or if the laser detunings are equal in both qubits and anitibunching if the laser detunings are in opposite directions. In the second research chapter we study the auto-correlation function of a single optically driven exciton qubit interacting with an environment consisting of 1/f noise and a fluctuating charge. We again use the transfer matrix method and a sum of Lorentzian distributions to approximate 1/f noise. Our simulations show that signatures of 1/f noise do exist in photon correlation measurements. From such measurements we are also able to determine a minimum cut-off frequency of the 1/f noise, in the case that there is such a cut-off. In addition we also show that a 1/f and a single fluctuator can be distinguished using the auto-correlation. In the final research chapter we study a pair of quantum dots, each with a low lying electron spin qubit and one higher lying level that can be selectively optically excited from one of the two spin states. Entanglement between the two spins can be achieved through path erasure. We look at the effect of a single fluctuating charge of the entanglement between these two `L' shaped electronic structures.

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A plasmônica tem chamado atenção nos últimos anos como um candidato viável para substituir a indústria eletrônica, assim como interação dos plásmons com a matéria devido a suas propriedades exóticas. O confinamento destes plásmons de superfície em nanoestruturas metálicas fabricadas com técnicas de litografia óptica, eletrônica e de íons cada vez mais avançadas, abriu a possibilidade de desenvolver vários modelos de dispositivos ópticos que trabalham na região do visível. Além disso, o estudo da interação de plásmons poláritons de superfície com emissores quânticos nas proximidades de nanoestruturas metálicas permite manipular as propriedades tanto dos plásmons como dos emissores quânticos. Tanto a preparação como a análise de amostras em plasmônica necessitam de técnicas capazes de investigar sistemas em nanoescala. Neste trabalho, investigamos a interação de plásmon poláritons confinados numa superfície de ouro com átomos artificiais, i.e. os emissores quânticos são pontos quânticos numa matriz de InAs/GaAs. Para isso, empregamos a análise da interação dos plásmons confinados numa grade metálica, com dimensões características abaixo do comprimento de onda da luz utilizada, assim como um sistema simples composto por uma na camada de ouro capaz de confinar plásmons em duas dimensões. A análise da interação com os estados de energia dos éxcitons nos pontos quânticos foi feita empregando medidas de micro-fotoluminescência a 77K e medidas de tempo de vida. Nos sistemas compostos pelas grades metálicas, observamos que é possível manipular a relação do espectro de luminescência correspondente a cada estado de energia do éxciton. Já no sistema composto pelo filme metálico simples, foi possível modificar o tempo de vida do estado fundamental do éxciton apenas modificando o cap layer da camada de pontos quânticos. / Plasmonics has drawn attention in recent years as a viable candidate to replace the electronics industry, as well as the interaction of plasmons with matter due to its exotic properties. The confinement of these surface plasmons in metal nanostructures made of increasingly advanced optical, electronic and ionic lithography techniques, opened the possibility of developing various models of optical devices working in the visible spectrum. Moreover, the study of interaction of surface plasmon polaritons with quantum emitters nearby metallic nanostructures opens a path to manipulate the properties of both plasmons and the quantum emitters. Both the preparation and analysis of samples in plasmonics require techniques capable of investigating nanoscale systems. In this thesis, we investigate the interaction of plasmon polaritons confined to a golden metallic surface with artificial atoms, i.e. quantum emitters consisting of quantum dots in a matrix of InAs/GaAs. For this, we used the analysis of the interaction of plasmons confined in a metallic grating with characteristic dimensions below the wavelength of light used, as well as a simple system composed of a thin gold layer which can confine plasmons in two dimensions. The analysis of the interaction with the exciton energy states in quantum dots was made using micro-photoluminescence measurements at 77 K and lifetime measurements. In systems composed by metal gratings, we note that it is possible to manipulate the relationship of the corresponding luminescence spectrum for each exciton energy state. In the system composed of the simple metal lm, it was possible to modify the ground state lifetime of the exciton only modifying the cap layer of the quantum dot layer.

The use of non-invasive methods to visualise and monitor processes inside living organisms is vital in the understanding and diagnosis of disease. The work in this thesis details the synthesis and applications of a new imaging modality; carbon dots, whose inherent fluorescence and non-toxic nature makes them attractive alternatives to more traditional ‘quantum dots’. In this thesis, different methods of carbon dot synthesis were attempted in order to produce carbon dots of the desired size and morphology. Nitrogen-containing carbon dots generated from 1,4-addition polymers provided the most successful route with optical and structural characteristics studied by TEM, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy and XPS. The biological behaviour of the carbon dots produced by this method were also evaluated. The ability of these carbon dots to up-convert when excited at long excitation wavelengths was studied. A number of biologically relevant applications of the carbon dots were studied. Using amine-functionalised carbon dots, cell targeting cargoes were conjugated and the effects of the carbon dot-cargo conjugates on cell lines were studied.

Since its first successful demonstration more than five decades ago [1], laser technology experienced a huge leap forward in terms of technological innovations and the understanding of underlying physical principles of operation. There were many efforts made by those in both the scientific and commercial communities who envisioned the potential of lasers. As a result, the laser now is a powerful scientific tool in many disciplines. It is widely used not only in physics, but also in chemistry, biology, medicine, engineering, environmental sciences, arts and their interdisciplinary fields. Moreover, it now has a vast number of applications in industry and everyday life whether it is light and matter interaction, communication and IT, healthcare and many other uses of this light source. By the same time, photonics comprises a market of multi-billion EUR value [2].At every stage of development, different laser parameters were engineered to suit those to specific application with some other parameters usually being sacrificed. Together with this, things like compactness and cost were always an issue to consider. A huge impact to the field of photonics was made by the development of semiconductor based structures that could be used as a light amplifying medium. Semiconductor lasers not only allowed the miniaturization of many devices, but also provided new opportunities for laser scientists due to ability to engineer their bandgap properties and to confine the carriers in different dimensions.The development of vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSELs), which are also known as optically pumped semiconductor lasers (OPSLs) or semiconductor disk lasers (SDLs) realized an important feature in semiconductor based lasers – high multi- Watt output power was combined with diffraction limited output beam profile.This work is devoted to the development of semiconductor disk lasers based on novel quantum dot (QD) structures. QD structures were embedded in this type of laser recently and allowed a number of advantages compared with the widely used quantum well (QW) structure. These included new spectral region coverage at 1-1.3 µm, enhanced wavelength tuneability and ultrafast carrier dynamics, which potentially will improve mode locked operation. QDs were also used as a base for semiconductor saturable absorbers in modelocking experiments.During the time of these studies, QD SDLs at new spectral regions and record output power were demonstrated. Power scaling up to 6 W was achieved for 1040 nm, 2.25 W for 1180 nm and 1.6 W for 1260 nm devices. Excited state transition in QDs was shown to be more efficient for high power QD SDLs as compared with ground state transition. New spectral regions were covered by QD SDLs using frequency doubling into the visible region with green, orange and red light emission with output powers of 2 W, 2.5 W and 0.34 W respectively. The broad gain bandwidth of the quantum dot material was explored and wavelength tuneability up to 60 nm around 1040 nm, 69 nm around 1180 nm, and 25 nm around 1260 nm was demonstrated.A QD based saturable absorber was used to mode-lock the quantum well SDL, resulting in the first such type of laser with sub-picosecond pulse widths. Pulses with duration of 870 fs at a repetition rate of 896 MHz and wavelength of 1028.5 nm were demonstrated. Pulses were 1.14 times Fourier limited and an average output power of 46 mW was achieved. Finally, quantum well based VECSELs with electrical pumping schemes were tested. The devices were first tested in the cw configuration. Highest output powers up to 60 mW were achieved from such devices. Devices were then tested in mode-locking experiments. Pulsed operation was observed and the measurements indicated 270 ps width pulses with 8 mW average output power at 1.9 GHz repetition rate. All devices operated at 980 nm.This thesis consists of six chapters. In the introductory part of this work, QD based SDLs and their development and applications will be reviewed together with their operational principles. Chapter two will describe the growth, fabrication and preparation of SDL samples. Continuous wave and mode-locked operation results will be presented in chapters three and four. Electrically pumped devices will be presented in chapter five along with experimental results. Conclusions and future prospects will be given at the end of this work. The list of publications which were generated during the studies is included at the beginning of this work.The work presented in thesis was done under the FAST-DOT project. This is a European FP 7 project targeted at the development of compact and low-cost novel quantum dot based laser sources for biophotonic applications.

Fung, Shu Hong = 量子點內自旋弱量度的散粒噪聲相關理論 / 馮書航. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 80-85). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Fung, Shu Hong = Liang zi dian nei zi xuan ruo liang du de san li zao sheng xiang guan li lun / Feng Shuhang. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Review on measurement theory --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Weak measurement --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- POVM formalism --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Noise spectroscopy --- p.8 / Chapter 3 --- Review on spin decoherence --- p.11 / Chapter 3.1 --- Longitudinal relaxation --- p.12 / Chapter 3.2 --- Transverse relaxation --- p.12 / Chapter 3.3 --- Inhomogeneous broadening --- p.13 / Chapter 3.4 --- Typical relaxation timescales --- p.14 / Chapter 4 --- Proof-of-principle setup --- p.15 / Chapter 4.1 --- Faraday rotation --- p.15 / Chapter 4.2 --- Polarization beam splitter --- p.17 / Chapter 4.3 --- Quantum state of the system --- p.19 / Chapter 5 --- Weak measurement on the spin --- p.22 / Chapter 5.1 --- POVM of measurement --- p.22 / Chapter 5.2 --- POVM of dephasing --- p.25 / Chapter 5.3 --- Interval distribution operator --- p.26 / Chapter 5.4 --- Interval distribution function without dephasing --- p.27 / Chapter 5.5 --- Second order correlation function without dephasing --- p.31 / Chapter 5.6 --- Interval distribution function with dephasing --- p.34 / Chapter 5.7 --- Second order correlation function with dephasing --- p.40 / Chapter 5.8 --- Effect of inhomogeneous broadening on g(2)(t) --- p.42 / Chapter 5.9 --- Third order correlation function --- p.43 / Chapter 5.10 --- Monte Carlo simulation --- p.44 / Chapter 5.11 --- Results and discussion --- p.46 / Chapter 5.11.1 --- Characteristics and implications of g(2)(t) --- p.46 / Chapter 5.11.2 --- "Characteristics and implications of g(3)(t1,t2)" --- p.47 / Chapter 6 --- Interval distribution function with random force models --- p.49 / Chapter 6.1 --- Impact collision model --- p.51 / Chapter 6.2 --- Modified diffusion model --- p.53 / Chapter 6.3 --- Difficulties in the calculation of g(2)(t) --- p.54 / Chapter 6.4 --- Kn as a measured quantity --- p.57 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusion --- p.59 / Chapter A --- Alternative derivation of k and higher order corrections --- p.62 / Chapter B --- Evaluation of integrals in the exponential --- p.70 / Chapter B.1 --- Integral of the form ∫ts + ∫vu --- p.70 / Chapter B.2 --- Integrals of the form ∫ts + ∫vu + ∫yz --- p.72 / Chapter C --- Evaluation of four-click events --- p.74 / Bibliography --- p.76

Qi, Huijie = 用于脫氧核糖核酸分子精确识别的Förster共振能量转移与光电压效应相结合的DNA-量子点分子光电开关 / 齐慧杰. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Qi, Huijie = Yong yu tuo yang he tang he suan fen zi jing que shi bie de Förster gong zhen neng liang zhuan yi yu guang dian ya xiao ying xiang jie he de DNA-liang zi dian fen zi guang dian kai guan / Qi Huijie. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Table of contents --- p.v / List of Figures --- p.ix / List of Tables --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Nanotechnology and nanomaterials --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- "Semiconductor quantum dots: optical properties, preparation and applications" --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- Preparation --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2.2 --- Applications --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Quantum dot-based DNA recognition --- p.10 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- Forster resonance energy transfer --- p.11 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- Bioimmobilization technique --- p.13 / Chapter 1.1.3.3 --- Highlights on Quantum dot-based DNA recognition --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objective and methodology --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Objective --- p.16 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- General methodology --- p.17 / References --- p.19 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Instrumentation --- p.23 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2 --- Atomic Force Microscopy --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Principle of Atomic Force Microscopy --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Instrumentation --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3 --- Absorption and Fluorescence spectroscopy --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Basic Principle --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Instrumentation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4 --- I-V characteristic --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Basic principle --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Instrumentation --- p.36 / Chapter 2.5 --- Other instrumentations --- p.37 / References --- p.38 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Preparation of DNA/QD network systems --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2 --- Preparation of DNA/QD network conjugates in solution --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Experimental --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Characterization --- p.41 / Chapter 3.3 --- Preparation of DNA/QD network on substrates --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Experimental --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Characterization --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4 --- Summary --- p.49 / References --- p.50 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Fluorescence and I-V characteristics for DNA/QD systems --- p.51 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2 --- Experimental --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Patterned Au electrodes --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Electric field induced assembly --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.55 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Optical studies of DNA/QD systems --- p.55 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- Optical characteristics of QDs used --- p.55 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- Optical studies of DNA/QD network systems in solution --- p.56 / Chapter 4.3.1.3 --- Optical studies of DNA cross-linked QD monolayer on substrates --- p.58 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- PV characteristics --- p.62 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.64 / References --- p.66 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- DNA-quantum dot molecular opto-electronic switch with combined Forster resonance energy transfer and photovoltaic effect --- p.68 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.68 / Chapter 5.2 --- Experimental --- p.69 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Preparation of DNA/QD molecular switch in solution --- p.69 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Preparation of platform of molecular optoelectronic switch --- p.72 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- EFIA --- p.73 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.73 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Optical studies of molecular switch constructed of DNA/QD/Cy5 system --- p.73 / Chapter 5.3.1.1 --- Studies on optical properties of molecular switch as well as sole FRET effect between QD and Cy5in solution --- p.73 / Chapter 5.3.1.2 --- Optical studies of dsDNAs cross-linked QD monolayer on substrates with presence of Cy5 --- p.79 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Studies on FRET mediated PV effect of DNA/QD/Cy5 molecular optoelectronic switch --- p.80 / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary --- p.82 / References --- p.83 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusions and Future Work --- p.84 / Chapter 6.1 --- Conclusions --- p.84 / Chapter 6.2 --- Future work --- p.85