Related papers: Optically tunable microresonator using an azobenze…
The next frontier in photonics will rely on the synergistic combination of disparate material systems. One unique organic molecule is azobenzene. This molecule can reversibly change conformations when optically excited in the blue…
Controlling the activity of proteins with azobenzene photoswitches is a potent tool for manipulating their biological function. With the help of light, one can change e.g. binding affinities, control allostery or temper with complex…
In-vivo, real-time study of the local and collective cellular biomechanical responses requires the fine and selective manipulation of the cellular environment. One innovative pathway is the use of photoactive bio-substrates such as…
We have observed reversible light-induced mechanical switching for a single organic molecule bound to a metal surface. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to image the features of an individual azobenzene molecule on Au(111) before…
We apply a first-principles computational approach to study a light-sensitive molecular switch. The molecule that comprises the switch can convert between a trans and a cis configuration upon photo-excitation. We find that the conductance…
Photonic molecules can mimic interactions of atomic energy levels, offering new ways to manipulate cavity eigenstates. Current methods using evanescent coupling of multiple cavities face challenges in scalability, flexibility, and coupling…
By first principles calculations, we demonstrate that when decorated with photochromic molecules, it is possible to use light to reversibly control the magnetic properties of a nanoscale magnetic system. The combination of a graphene-based…
We report the formation of self-assembled monolayers of a molecular photoswitch (azobenzene-bithiophene derivative, AzBT) on cobalt via a thiol covalent bond. We study the electrical properties of the molecular junctions formed with the tip…
The ability to control the conductance of single molecules will have a major impact in nanoscale electronics. Azobenzene, a molecule that changes conformation as a result of a trans/cis transition when exposed to radiation, could form the…
Photoresponsive materials feature properties that can be adjusted near- instantaneously, reversibly, and with high spatiotemporal precision, by light. There is considerable interest in maximising the degree of switching, and in measuring…
Entanglement control of qubits in a photoisomerizing molecule is studied in the context of an NMR quantum computer by taking azobenzene as an example. Azobenzene has two different isomers, {\it{}trans}-azobenzene (TAB) and…
Photonic molecules can be used to realize complex optical energy states and modes, analogous to those found in molecules, with properties useful for applications like spectral engineering and quantum optics. It is desirable to implement…
To develop a new generation of high-speed photonic modulators on silicon-technology-based photonics, new materials with large Pockels coefficients have been transferred to silicon substrates. Previous approaches focus on realizing…
Self-assembled functionalized nano particles are at the focus of a number of potential applications, in particular for molecular scale electronics devices. Here we perform experiments of self-assembly of 10 nm Au nano particles (NPs),…
The strong coupling between molecules and photons in resonant cavities offers a new toolbox to manipulate photochemical reactions. While the quenching of photochemical reactions in the strong coupling regime has been demonstrated before,…
Brillouin spectroscopy is commonly used to study the acoustic properties of materials. Here we explored its feasibility in studying the photoinduced isomerization of azobenzene. The isomerization of azobenzene changes the solution elastic…
Micron-scale optical cavities are produced using a combination of template sphere self-assembly and electrochemical growth. Transmission measurements of the tunable microcavities show sharp resonant modes with a Q-factor>300, and 25-fold…
From fundamental discovery to practical application, advances in the optical and quantum sciences rely upon precise control of light-matter interactions. Systems of coupled optical cavities are ubiquitous in these efforts, yet design and…
Electro-optic modulators provide a key function in optical transceivers and increasingly in photonic programmable Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) for machine learning and signal processing. However, both foundry ready…
Molecular photoswitches are the foundation of light-activated drugs. A key photoswitch is azobenzene, which exhibits trans-cis isomerism in response to light. The thermal half-life of the cis isomer is of crucial importance, since it…