arXiv subjects

Daniel Granados

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel Granados.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

The Hidden Cost of Alloying: Disorder-Driven Transport Collapse in TMDs

Alloying in two dimensional semiconductors is widely used to tune bandgaps, yet its implications for charge and energy transport remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate MoS2xSe2(1-x) alloys as a model system to study the interplay between composition, thickness, and disorder. Optical transitions and valence band dispersions evolve continuously with both stoichiometry and number of layers, with negligible bandgap bowing and a composition dependent attenuation of thickness driven renormalization. In contrast, time resolved spatial mapping of photoexcited carriers reveals a pronounced and asymmetric collapse of carrier diffusivity at intermediate compositions, which cannot be accounted for by changes in effective mass or band alignment, and instead emerges from strong real space fluctuations in the local energetic landscape generated by random chalcogen substitution. Microscopic simulations reproduce the experimental trends and show that the character of disorder depends critically on the direction of alloying, producing either scattering barriers or deep trapping sites. Together, these results demonstrate that transport in TMD alloys is governed by disorder physics, overlooked by conventional optical and photoemission probes at equilibrium. Our findings establish transport as a stringent metric of electronic quality and high-light intrinsic limitations in the usage of TMD alloys for layered semiconductor devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Polariton-polariton coherent coupling in a molecular spin-superconductor chip

The ability to establish coherent communication channels is key for scaling up quantum devices. Here, we engineer interactions between distant polaritons, hybrid spin-photon excitations formed at different lumped-element superconducting resonators within a chip. The chip consists of several resonator pairs, slightly detuned in frequency to make them addressable, capacitively coupled within each pair and inductively coupled to a common readout line. They interact locally with samples of PTMr and Tripak$^{-}$ organic free radicals, deposited onto their inductors, which provide model $S = 1/2$, $g \simeq 2$ spin ensembles. Frequency-dependent microwave transmission experiments, performed at very low temperatures, measure polariton frequencies as a function of magnetic field in different scenarios. When only one resonator within a pair hosts a molecular sample, the results evidence that spins couple remotely to the empty LER as well as to the local cavity mode. If both resonators interact with a spin ensemble, the magnetic field tunes the polariton frequencies relative to each other, on account of the different spin-photon interactions at each LER. When polaritons are brought into mutual resonance, an avoided level crossing emerges that gives direct spectroscopic evidence for a coherent polariton-polariton interaction mediated by the circuit. Pump-probe experiments reveal that the excitation of a polariton within a connected pair is felt, thus it can be read out, by the other one. These observations, backed by model calculations, illustrate the control and detection of distant photon-photon and spin-spin correlations and entanglement in a scalable modular chip.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2026

Physically Unclonable Functions Based on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: A Scalable and Inexpensive Method toward Unique Identifiers

A physically un-clonable function (PUF) is a physical system that cannot be reproduced or predicted and therefore is a good basis to build security and anti-counterfeiting applications. The unclonability of PUFs typically stems from the randmoness induced in a system during sophisticated fabrication methods. It is precisely this built-in complexity the bottleneck hindering scalability and increasing costs. Here, we produce in a simple manner PUFs based on arrays of carbon nanotubes junctions simultaneously assembled by dielectrophoresis. We demonstrate that the intrinsic inhomogeneity of carbon nanotubes at the nanoscale, combined with the unpredictability introduced by liquid phase-based fabrication methods results in unique electronic profiles of easily scalable devices. This approach could be extrapolated to generate PUFs based on other nanoscale materials

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Optimizing magnetic coupling in lumped element superconducting resonators for molecular spin qubits

We engineer lumped-element superconducting resonators that maximize magnetic coupling to molecular spin qubits, achieving record single-spin couplings up to $100$ kHz and collective couplings exceeding $10$ MHz. The resonators interact with PTMr organic free radicals, model spin systems with $S=1/2$ and a quasi-isotropic $g \simeq 2$, dispersed in polymer matrices. The highest collective spin-photon coupling strengths are attained with resonators having large inductors, which therefore interact with most spins in the molecular ensemble. By contrast, the coupling of each individual spin $G_{1}$ is maximized in resonators having a minimum size inductor, made of a single wire. The same platform has been used to study spin relaxation and spin coherent dynamics in the dispersive regime, when spins are energetically detuned from the resonator. We find evidences for the Purcell effect, i.e. the photon induced relaxation of those spins that are most strongly coupled to the circuit. The rate of this process gives access to the distribution of single spin photon couplings in a given device. For resonators with a $50$ nm wide constriction at the inductor center, single maximum $G_{1}$ values reach $\sim 100$ kHz. Pumping the spins with strong pulses fed through an independent transmission line induces coherent Rabi oscillations. The spin excitation then proceeds via either direct resonant processes induced by the main pulse frequency or, in the case of square-shaped pulses, via the excitation of the cavity by sideband frequency components. The latter process measures the cavity mode hybridization with the spins and can be eliminated by using Gaussian shaped pulses. These results establish a scalable route toward integrated molecular-spin quantum processors.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Millimeter-Wavelength Lens-Absorber-Coupled Ti/Al Kinetic Inductance Detectors

This work presents Ti/Al bi-layer Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) based on lens-coupled spiral absorbers as the quasi-optical coupling mechanism for millimeter-wavelength radiation detection. From simulations, the lens-coupled absorbers provide a 70% lens aperture efficiency in both polarizations over an octave band with a spiral array absorber and over 10% relative bandwidth with a single spiral. We have fabricated and measured two devices with bare Ti/Al MKIDs: a 3x3 cm chip with 9 pixels to characterize the optical response at 85 GHz of the two variations of the absorber; and a large format demonstrator with 253 spiral-array pixels showing potential towards a large format millimeter-wavelength camera. We estimate a sensitivity of 1 $\mathrm{mK}\cdot\mathrm{Hz}^{-0.5}$ and a 95% detector yield.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Cross-Polarization Reduction in Kinetic Inductance Detectors Based on Quasi-Lumped Resonators

Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KIDs) have emerged as a leading technology for millimeter- and submillimeter-wave astronomy due to their high sensitivity, natural multiplexing capabilities and scalable fabrication. In polarization-sensitive applications-such as Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) studies-cross-polarization, or unintended response to the orthogonal polarization, poses a significant limitation to measurement fidelity. This work investigates the origin of cross-polarization in meandered Lumped Element KIDs (LEKIDs), with particular emphasis on the role of parasitic currents in the interdigitated capacitor. A comparative study between conventional LEKIDs and a quasi-lumped resonator design is presented, demonstrating that removing the capacitive element may improve cross-polarization discrimination, confirming the capacitor's contribution to polarization leakage.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2025

Dark characterization of Ti/Al LEKIDs for the search of axions in the W-band

We report the electrical (dark) characterization of lumped-element kinetic inductance detectors (LEKIDs) fabricated from a Titanium/Aluminum bilayer and designed for broadband absorption in the W-band (75-110 GHz). These detectors are prototypes for future QCD axion search experiments within the Canfranc Axion Detection Experiment (CADEx), which demand sub 1e-19 W/Hz^0.5 sensitivities under low optical backgrounds. We combine a Mattis-Bardeen analysis to the temperature dependence of the detector parameters with noise spectroscopy to determine the electrical noise equivalent power (NEP). The minimum measured value for the electrical NEP is 3e-19 W/Hz0.5. Across the measured temperature range, we find that quasiparticle lifetime deviates from the expected BCS recombination law. Our analysis suggests that non-equilibrium relaxation is governed by spatial inhomogeneities in the superconducting gap and phonon diffusion effects. This work sets the road-map to achieve suitable and ultra-sensitive detectors in the W-band for dark matter axion search experiments.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Influence of carrier density and disorder on the Quantum Hall plateau widths in epitaxial graphene

Since its discovery, graphene has been one of the most prominent 2D materials due to its unique properties and broad range of possible applications. In particular, the half-integer Quantum Hall Effect (HI-QHE) characterized by the quantization of Hall resistivity as a function of applied magnetic field, offers opportunities for advancements in quantum metrology and the understanding of topological quantum states in this 2D material. While the role of disorder in stabilizing quantum Hall plateaus (QHPs) is widely recognized, the precise interplay between the plateaus width, disorder, mobility and carrier density remains less explored. In this work, we investigate the width of the $\nu=6$ QHP in epitaxial graphene Hall bars, focusing on two distinct regions of the device with markedly different electronic mobilities. Depending on the storage conditions, it is possible to modify the carrier density of graphene QHE devices and consequently increase or reduce the mobility. Our experiments reveal mobility variations of up to 200$\%$ from their initial value. In particular, the sample storage time and ambient conditions cause also noticeable changes in the positions and extension of the QHPs. Our results show that the QHP extension for $\nu=6$ differs significantly between the two regions, influenced by both mobility and disorder, rather than solely by carrier density. Transport simulations based on the Landauer-B\"uttiker formalism with Anderson disorder in a scaled model reveal the critical role of impurities in shaping graphene transport properties defining the extension of the QHPs. This study provides valuable insights into the interplay between mobility, disorder, and quantum transport in graphene systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Directional picoantenna behavior of tunnel junctions in the presence of atomic-scale defects

Plasmonic nanoantennas, metallodielectric structures with engineered size and shape, have attracted much attention lately as they make the control of the directionality and temporal characteristics of light emitted by fluorophores possible. Nanoantennas exploit light-matter interactions mediated by Localized Surface Plasmon Resonances and, so far, have been demonstrated using metallic nanoparticles or other metallic nanostructures. Plasmonic picocavities, i.e., plasmonic cavities with mode volumes below 1 cubic nanometer, could act as antennas to mediate light-matter interaction even more efficiently than their nanoscale counterparts due to their extreme field confinement, but the directionality on their emission is difficult to control. In this work, we show that the plasmonic picocavity formed between the tip of a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope and a metal surface with a monoatomic step shows directional emission profiles and, thus, can be considered as a realization of a picoantenna. Comparison with electromagnetic calculations demonstrates that the observed directionality arises from light emission tilting of the picocavity plasmons. Our results, thus, pave the way to exploiting picoantennas as an efficient way to control light-matter interaction at the nanoscale.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Low loss hybrid Nb/Au superconducting resonators for quantum circuit applications

Superconducting resonators play a crucial role in the development of quantum technologies such as quantum computing or high performance detectors. Yet, one of their main limitations regarding to noise and sensitivity is the interaction with two-level systems present in oxide layers in the device. Focused on mitigating this problem, we study a superconducting device combining a 100 nm niobium (Nb) circuit with a 10 nm gold (Au) capping layer. Our investigation covers a wide range of temperatures and driving powers, revealing that adding the Au layer reduces the density of two-level system defects while maintaining a very high quality factor. Moreover, an increase in the non-linearity response is also observed. Our findings suggest the potential of Nb/Au lumped element resonators as versatile and promising tools for advancing superconducting quantum technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Optimal coupling of HoW$_{10}$ molecular magnets to superconducting circuits near spin clock transitions

A central goal in quantum technologies is to maximize $G$T$_{2}$, where $G$ stands for the coupling of a qubit to control and readout signals and T$_{2}$ is the qubit's coherence time. This is challenging, as increasing $G$ (e.g. by coupling the qubit more strongly to external stimuli) often leads to deleterious effects on T$_{2}$. Here, we study the coupling of pure and magnetically diluted crystals of HoW$_{10}$ magnetic clusters to microwave superconducting coplanar waveguides. Absorption lines give a broadband picture of the magnetic energy level scheme and, in particular, confirm the existence of level anticrossings at equidistant magnetic fields determined by the combination of crystal field and hyperfine interactions. Such 'spin clock transitions' are known to shield the electronic spins against magnetic field fluctuations. The analysis of the microwave transmission shows that the spin-photon coupling becomes also maximum at these transitions. The results show that engineering spin-clock states of molecular systems offers a promising strategy to combine sizeable spin-photon interactions with a sufficient isolation from unwanted magnetic noise sources.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Selectively addressing plasmonic modes and excitonic states in a nanocavity hosting a quantum emitter

Understanding and controlling the interaction between the excitonic states of a quantum emitter and the plasmonic modes of a nanocavity is one of the most relevant current scientific challenges, key for the development of many applications, from quantum information processing devices to polaritonic catalysts. In this paper we demonstrate that the tunnel electroluminescence of C60 nanocrystals enclosed in the plasmonic nanocavity between a metallic surface and the tip of a Scanning Tunnelling Microscope, and isolated from the metal surface by a thin NaCl film, can be switched from a broad emission spectrum, revealing the plasmonic modes of the cavity, to a narrow band emission, displaying only the excitonic states of the C60 molecules by changing the bias voltage applied to the junction. Plasmonic emission is found in the same voltage region in which the rate of inelastic tunnel transitions is large and, thus, vanishes for large voltages. Excitonic emission, on the other hand, dominates the spectra in the high-voltage region in which the inelastic rate is low, demonstrating that the excitons cannot be created by an inelastic tunnel process. These results point towards new possible mechanisms to explain the tunnel electroluminescence of quantum emitters and offer new avenues to develop electrically tuneable nanoscale light sources.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

The Canfranc Axion Detection Experiment (CADEx): Search for axions at 90 GHz with Kinetic Inductance Detectors

We propose a novel experiment, the Canfranc Axion Detection Experiment (CADEx), to probe dark matter axions with masses in the range 330-460 $μ$eV, within the W-band (80-110 GHz), an unexplored parameter space in the well-motivated dark matter window of Quantum ChromoDynamics (QCD) axions. The experimental design consists of a microwave resonant cavity haloscope in a high static magnetic field coupled to a highly sensitive detecting system based on Kinetic Inductance Detectors via optimized quasi-optics (horns and mirrors). The experiment is in preparation and will be installed in the dilution refrigerator of the Canfranc Underground Laboratory. Sensitivity forecasts for axion detection with CADEx, together with the potential of the experiment to search for dark photons, are presented.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2021

Electronic temperature and two-electron processes in overbias plasmonic emission from tunnel junctions

The accurate determination of electronic temperatures in metallic nanostructures is essential for many technological applications, like plasmon-enhanced catalysis or lithographic nanofabrication procedures. In this Letter we demonstrate that the electronic temperature can be accurately measured by the shape of the tunnel electroluminescence emission edge in tunnel plasmonic nanocavities, which follows a universal thermal distribution with the bias voltage as the chemical potential of the photon population. A significant deviation between electronic and lattice temperatures is found below 30 K for tunnel currents larger than 15 nA. This deviation is rationalized as the result of a two-electron process in which the second electron excites plasmon modes with an energy distribution that reflects the higher temperature following the first tunneling event. These results dispel a long-standing controversy on the nature of overbias emission in tunnel junctions and adds a new method for the determination of electronic temperatures and quasiparticle dynamics.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Unveiling the Radiative Local Density of Optical States of a Plasmonic Nanocavity by STM Luminescence and Spectroscopy

Disentangling the contributions of radiative and non-radiative localized plasmonic modes from the photonic density of states of metallic nanocavities between atomically-sharp tips and flat substrates remains an experimental challenge nowadays. Electroluminescence due to tunnelling through the tip-substrate gap allows discerning solely the excitation of radiative modes, but this information is inherently convolved with that of the electronic structure of the system. In this work we present a fully experimental procedure to eliminate the electronic-structure factors from the scanning tunnelling microscope luminescence spectra by confronting them with spectroscopic information extracted from elastic current measurements. Comparison against electromagnetic calculations demonstrates that this procedure allows characterizing the meV shifts experienced by the dipolar and quadrupolar plasmonic modes supported by the nanocavity under atomic-scale gap size changes. Our method, thus, gives us access to the frequency-dependent radiative Purcell enhancement that a microscopic light emitter would undergo when placed at the nanocavity.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth of Boron-Carbon-Nitrogen layers from Methylamine Borane Thermolysis Products

This work investigates the growth of B-C-N layers by chemical vapor deposition using methylamine borane (MeAB) as single-source precursor. MeAB has been synthesized and characterized, paying particular attention to the analysis of its thermolysis products, which are the gaseous precursors for B-C-N growth. Samples have been grown on Cu foils and transferred onto different substrates for their morphological, structural, chemical, electronic and optical characterizations. The results of these characterizations indicate a segregation of h-BN and Graphene-like (Gr) domains. However, there is an important presence of B and N interactions with C at the Gr borders, and of C interacting at the h-BN-edges, respectively, in the obtained nano-layers. In particular, there is significant presence of C-N bonds, at Gr/h-BN borders and in the form of N doping of Gr domains. The overall B:C:N contents in the layers is close to 1:3:1.5. A careful analysis of the optical bandgap determination of the obtained B-C-N layers is presented, discussed and compared with previous seminal works with samples of similar composition.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗