Kavli Prize Symposia: Nanoscience

Date & Time: September 6, 9:30am - 2:00pm (CEST)
Location: The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Oslo

Thomas Ebbesen
Université Louis-Pasteur, Strasbourg, France
"Light, Metal and Molecules"
Surface plasmons have generated considerable interest in recent years for their potential applications from sensing to photonic devices. Ebbesen will focus on the exploration of surface plasmon -- molecule interactions in hole arrays and in single apertures. Results showing that such aperture structures can, among other things, give rise to enhanced absorption, enhanced emission, strong coupling and index switching, will be presented together with examples of ultra-fast characterization of the surface plasmon -- molecule hybdrid states. Finally, the implications for chemistry, from spectroscopy to modifying molecular state properties, will be discussed. (Additional information)

Paul Alivisatos
UC Berkeley, USA
"Artificial Molecules Built from Colloidal Nanocrystals"
Colloidal nanocrystals can be thought of as artificial atoms, or units with controllable density of electronic states. Alivisatos will discuss working on coupled colloidal nanocrystals to create artificial molecules. In the case of branched nanocrystals, quantum dots and directed nanoparticle groupings, strong coupling between individual nanocrystals leading to collective behavior in the nanocrystal molecule has been observed. Such nanocrystal molecules may have significant applications in fields as diverse as biological imaging and renewable energy. (Additional information)

Andre Geim
University of Manchester, UK
"Graphene: Magic of Flat Carbon"
Graphene -- a free-standing atomic plane of graphite -- is a wonder material. From being the thinnest material in the universe and the strongest one ever measured, it also can sustain current densities million times higher than that of copper, shows record thermal conductivity and stiffness, is impermeable to gases and reconciles such conflicting qualities as brittleness and ductility. Geim will provide an overview his work on graphene, concentrating on its fascinating electronic and optical properties and speculating about future applications. (Additional information)

Moty Heiblum
Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
"Interference Between Two Indistinguishable Electrons Emanating from Two Independent Sources"
Heiblum will present an observation of interference fringes between two independent and non-interacting electrons in a two-electron interferometer. In the experiment, two independent and mutually incoherent electron beams, emanating from two separated sources, were each partitioned into two trajectories. Observations involving Aharonov-Bohm magnetic flux and interference oscillations displayed a direct signature of quantum entanglement between the spatial degrees of freedom of two electrons ("orbital entanglement") even though they never interact with each other. (Additional information)

Albert Fert
Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales, Palaiseau, France
"The Impact of Spintronics on the Information and Communication Technologies"
Spintronics is mainly known for the Giant MagnetoResistance (GMR) and the considerable storage density increase brought by the application of the GMR to the read heads of hard discs. However the GMR was only the first step in the development of a new type of electronics which exploits the spin of the electrons and is now called spintronics. After a review of some of the recent advances, Fert will describe their expected impact on the computing and telecommunication technologies of tomorrow (and, more generally, on the "beyond CMOS" electronics). (Additional information)

Charles Marcus
Harvard University, Boston, USA
"Controlling Individual Spins in Semiconductors: Basic Physics and Applications to Quantum Information"
Marcus will summarize progress in recent years, by his group and others, to control and read the state of individual spins in quantum dots defined by electrostatic gates in semiconductor heterostructures, nanowires, and carbon nanotubes. For one or two spins, this "technology" is now in hand, and work is now underway toward integrating larger numbers of spins while maintaining full control over the system. Open problems and yet-unaccomplished technical challenges will be emphasized in this presentation. (Additional information)