On-Chip Electrostatic Actuation of a Photonic Wire Antenna Embedding Quantum Dots.

A photonic wire antenna embedding individual quantum dots (QDs) constitutes a promising platform for both quantum photonics and hybrid nanomechanics. We demonstrate here an integrated device in which on-chip electrodes can apply a static or oscillating bending force to the upper part of the wire. In the static regime, we achieve control over the bending direction and apply at will tensile or compressive mechanical stress on any QD. This results in a blue shift or red shift of their emission, with direct application to the realization of broadly tunable sources of quantum light. As a first illustration of operation in the dynamic regime, we excite the wire fundamental flexural mode and use the QD emission to detect the mechanical vibration. With an estimated operation bandwidth in the GHz range, electrostatic actuation opens appealing perspectives for the exploration of QD-nanowire hybrid mechanics with high-frequency vibrational modes.

AlGaN/GaN asymmetric graded-index separate confinement heterostructures designed for electron-beam pumped UV lasers.

We present a study of undoped AlGaN/GaN separate confinement heterostructures designed to operate as electron beam pumped ultraviolet lasers. We discuss the effect of spontaneous and piezoelectric polarization on carrier diffusion, comparing the results of cathodoluminescence with electronic simulations of the band structure and Monte Carlo calculations of the electron trajectories. Carrier collection is significantly improved using an asymmetric graded-index separate confinement heterostructure (GRINSCH). The graded layers avoid potential barriers induced by polarization differences in the heterostructure and serve as strain transition buffers which reduce the mosaicity of the active region and the linewidth of spontaneous emission.

Large and Uniform Optical Emission Shifts in Quantum Dots Strained along Their Growth Axis.

We introduce a calibration method to quantify the impact of external mechanical stress on the emission wavelength of distinct quantum dots (QDs). Specifically, these emitters are integrated in a cross-section of a semiconductor core wire and experience a longitudinal strain that is induced by an amorphous capping shell. Detailed numerical simulations show that, thanks to the shell mechanical isotropy, the strain in the core is uniform, which enables a direct comparison of the QD responses. Moreover, the core strain is determined in situ by an optical measurement, yielding reliable values for the QD emission tuning slope. This calibration technique is applied to self-assembled InAs QDs submitted to incremental elongation along their growth axis. In contrast to recent studies conducted on similar QDs submitted to a uniaxial stress perpendicular to the growth direction, optical spectroscopy reveals up to ten times larger tuning slopes, with a moderate dispersion. These results highlight the importance of the stress direction to optimize the QD optical shift, with general implications, both in static and dynamic regimes. As such, they are in particular relevant for the development of wavelength-tunable single-photon sources or hybrid QD opto-mechanical systems.

Developmental defects in zebrafish for classification of EGF pathway inhibitors.

One of the major challenges when testing drug candidates targeted at a specific pathway in whole animals is the discrimination between specific effects and unwanted, off-target effects. Here we used the zebrafish to define several developmental defects caused by impairment of Egf signaling, a major pathway of interest in tumor biology. We inactivated Egf signaling by genetically blocking Egf expression or using specific inhibitors of the Egf receptor function. We show that the combined occurrence of defects in cartilage formation, disturbance of blood flow in the trunk and a decrease of myelin basic protein expression represent good indicators for impairment of Egf signaling. Finally, we present a classification of known tyrosine kinase inhibitors according to their specificity for the Egf pathway. In conclusion, we show that developmental indicators can help to discriminate between specific effects on the target pathway from off-target effects in molecularly targeted drug screening experiments in whole animal systems.