arXiv subjects

Christophe Voisin

Publications and source records attributed to Christophe Voisin.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Ultra-coherent single photon source

We present a novel type of single photon source in solid state, based on the coherent laser light scattering by a single InAs quantum dot. We demonstrate that the coherence of the emitted single photons is tailored by the resonant excitation with a spectral linewidth below the radiative limit. Our ultra-coherent source opens the way for integrated quantum devices dedicated to the generation of single photons with high degrees of indistinguishability.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2011

Optically-gated resonant emission in single quantum dots

We report on the resonant emission in coherently-driven single semiconductor quantum dots. We demonstrate that an ultra-weak non-resonant laser acts as an optical gate for the quantum dot resonant response. We show that the gate laser suppresses Coulomb blockade at the origin of a resonant emission quenching, and that the optically-gated quantum dots systematically behave as ideal two-level systems in both regimes of coherent and incoherent resonant emission.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2010

Excitons and high-order optical transitions in individual carbon nanotubes

We examine the excitonic nature of high-lying optical transitions in single-walled carbon nanotubes by means of Rayleigh scattering spectroscopy. A careful analysis of the principal transitions of individual semiconducting and metallic nanotubes reveals that in both cases the lineshape is consistent with an excitonic model, but not one of free-carriers. For semiconducting species, side-bands are observed at ~200 meV above the third and fourth optical transitions. These features are ascribed to exciton-phonon bound states. Such side-bands are not apparent for metallic nanotubes,as expected from the reduced strength of excitonic interactions in these systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2009

Pi-stacking functionalization through micelles swelling: Application to the synthesis of single wall carbon nanotube/porphyrin complexes for energy transfer

We report on a new, orginal and efficient method for "pi-stacking" functionalization of single wall carbon nanotubes. This method is applied to the synthesis of a high-yield light-harvesting system combining single wall carbon nanotubes and porphyrin molecules. We developed a micelle swelling technique that leads to controlled and stable complexes presenting an efficient energy transfer. We demonstrate the key role of the organic solvent in the functionalization mechanism. By swelling the micelles, the solvent helps the non water soluble porphyrins to reach the micelle core and allows a strong enhancement of the interaction between porphyrins and nanotubes. This technique opens new avenues for the functionalization of carbon nanostructures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2008

Characterization of Fault Roughness at Various Scales: Implications of Three-Dimensional High Resolution Topography Measurements

Accurate description of the topography of active faults surfaces represents an important geophysical issue because this topography is strongly related to the stress distribution along fault planes, and therefore to processes implicated in earthquake nucleation, propagation, and arrest. With the recent development of Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) apparatus, it is now possible to measure accurately the 3D topography of rough surfaces with a comparable resolution in all directions, both at field and laboratory scales. In the present study, we have investigated the scaling properties including possible anisotropy properties of several outcrops of two natural fault surfaces (Vuache strike-slip fault, France, and Magnola normal fault, Italy) in limestones.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2008

Evolution of seismic signals and slip patterns along subduction zones: insights from a friction lab scale experiment

Continuous GPS and broadband seismic monitoring have revealed a variety of disparate slip patterns especially in shallow dipping subduction zones, among which regular earthquakes, slow slip events and silent quakes1,2. Slow slip events are sometimes accompanied by Non Volcanic Tremors (NVT), which origin remains unclear3, either related to fluid migration or to friction. The present understanding of the whole menagerie of slip patterns is based upon numerical simulations imposing ad hoc values of the rate and state parameters a and b4-6 derived from the temperature dependence of a and b of a wet granite gouge7. Here we investigate the influence of the cumulative slip on the frictional and acoustic patterns of a lab scale subduction zone. Shallow loud earthquakes (stick-slip events), medium depth slow, deeper silent quakes (smooth sliding oscillations) and deepest steady-state creep (continuous sliding) are reproduced by the ageing of contact interface with cumulative displacement8. The Acoustic Emission evolves with cumulative displacement and interface ageing, following a trend from strong impulsive events, similar to earthquake seismic signals, to a collection of smaller amplitude and longer duration signals, similar to Non Volcanic Tremors. NVT emerge as the recollection of the local unstable behaviour of the contact interface globally evolving towards the stable sliding regime.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2008

High resolution 3D laser scanner measurements of a strike-slip fault quantify its morphological anisotropy at all scales

The surface roughness of a recently exhumed strikeslip fault plane has been measured by three independent 3D portable laser scanners. Digital elevation models of several fault surface areas, from 1 m2 to 600 m2, have been measured at a resolution ranging from 5 mm to 80 mm. Out of plane height fluctuations are described by non-Gaussian distribution with exponential long range tails. Statistical scaling analyses show that the striated fault surface exhibits self-affine scaling invariance with a small but significant directional morphological anisotropy that can be described by two scaling roughness exponents, H1 = 0.7 in the direction of slip and H2 = 0.8 perpendicular to the direction of slip.

physics.geo-ph↗

arXiv2007

Long Term Friction: from Stick-Slip to Stable Sliding

We have devised an original laboratory experiment where we investigate the frictional behaviour of a single crystal salt slider over a large number of deformation cycles. Because of its physical properties, salt, a surrogate for natural faults, allows for friction and plastic deformation and pressure solution creep to be efficient on the same timescale. During the same experiment, we observe a continuous change of the frictional behaviour of the slider under constant conditions of stiffness, temperature and loading velocity. The stick-slip regime is progressively vanishing, eventually reaching the stable sliding regime. Concomitantly, the contact interface, observed under the microscope, develops a striated morphology with contact asperities increase in length and width, arguing for an increase in the critical slip distance dc. Complementary experiments including velocity jumps show that the frictional parameters of the rate and state friction law, a and b, progressively vanish with the cumulative slip. In our experimental conditions, the ultimate stage of friction is therefore rate and state independent.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2006

Unconventional motional narrowing in the optical spectrum of a semiconductor quantum dot

Motional narrowing refers to the striking phenomenon where the resonance line of a system coupled to a reservoir becomes narrower when increasing the reservoir fluctuation. A textbook example is found in nuclear magnetic resonance, where the fluctuating local magnetic fields created by randomly oriented nuclear spins are averaged when the motion of the nuclei is thermally activated. The existence of a motional narrowing effect in the optical response of semiconductor quantum dots remains so far unexplored. This effect may be important in this instance since the decoherence dynamics is a central issue for the implementation of quantum information processing based on quantum dots. Here we report on the experimental evidence of motional narrowing in the optical spectrum of a semiconductor quantum dot broadened by the spectral diffusion phenomenon. Surprisingly, motional narrowing is achieved when decreasing incident power or temperature, in contrast with the standard phenomenology observed for nuclear magnetic resonance.

cond-mat.other↗