54 research outputs found
On-demand generation of background--free single photons from a solid-state source
True on--demand high--repetition--rate single--photon sources are highly
sought after for quantum information processing applications. However, any
coherently driven two-level quantum system suffers from a finite re-excitation
probability under pulsed excitation, causing undesirable multi--photon
emission. Here, we present a solid--state source of on--demand single photons
yielding a raw second--order coherence of
without any background subtraction nor data processing. To this date, this is
the lowest value of reported for any single--photon source even
compared to the previously best background subtracted values. We achieve this
result on GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots embedded in a low--Q planar cavity by
employing (i) a two--photon excitation process and (ii) a filtering and
detection setup featuring two superconducting single--photon detectors with
ultralow dark-count rates of and , respectively. Re--excitation processes are dramatically suppressed by
(i), while (ii) removes false coincidences resulting in a negligibly low noise
floor
Resonance fluorescence of GaAs quantum dots with near-unity photon indistinguishability
Photonic quantum technologies call for scalable quantum light sources that
can be integrated, while providing the end user with single and entangled
photons on-demand. One promising candidate are strain free GaAs/AlGaAs quantum
dots obtained by droplet etching. Such quantum dots exhibit ultra low
multi-photon probability and an unprecedented degree of photon pair
entanglement. However, different to commonly studied InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots
obtained by the Stranski-Krastanow mode, photons with a near-unity
indistinguishability from these quantum emitters have proven to be elusive so
far. Here, we show on-demand generation of near-unity indistinguishable photons
from these quantum emitters by exploring pulsed resonance fluorescence. Given
the short intrinsic lifetime of excitons confined in the GaAs quantum dots, we
show single photon indistinguishability with a raw visibility of
, without the need for Purcell enhancement. Our
results represent a milestone in the advance of GaAs quantum dots by
demonstrating the final missing property standing in the way of using these
emitters as a key component in quantum communication applications, e.g. as an
entangled source for quantum repeater architectures
Threonine 150 phosphorylation of keratin 5 is linked to EBS and regulates filament assembly, cell cycle and oxidative stress response
A characteristic feature of the skin blistering disease epidermolysis bullosa simplex is keratin filament (KF) network collapse caused by aggregation of the basal epidermal keratin type II (KtyII) K5 and its type I partner keratin 14 (K14). Here, we examine the role of keratin phosphorylation in KF network rearrangement and cellular functions. We detect phosphorylation of the K5 head domain residue T150 in cytoplasmic epidermolysis bullosa simplex granules containing R125C K14 mutants. Expression of phosphomimetic T150D K5 mutants results in impaired KF formation in keratinocytes. The phenotype is enhanced upon combination with other phosphomimetic K5 head domain mutations. Remarkably, introduction of T150D K5 mutants into KtyII-lacking (KtyII–/–) keratinocytes prevents keratin network formation altogether. In contrast, phosphorylation-deficient T150A K5 leads to KFs with reduced branching and turnover. Assembly of T150D K5 is arrested at the heterotetramer stage coinciding with increased heat shock protein association. Finally, reduced cell viability and elevated response to stressors is noted in T150 mutant cells. Taken together, our findings identify T150 K5 phosphorylation as an important determinant of KF network formation and function with a possible role in epidermolysis bullosa simplex pathogenesis
Electrically-Pumped Wavelength-Tunable GaAs Quantum Dots Interfaced with Rubidium Atoms
We demonstrate the first wavelength-tunable electrically-pumped source of
non-classical light that can emit photons with wavelength in resonance with the
D2 transitions of 87Rb atoms. The device is fabricated by integrating a novel
GaAs single-quantum-dot light-emitting-diode (LED) onto a piezoelectric
actuator. By feeding the emitted photons into a 75-mm-long cell containing warm
87Rb atom vapor, we observe slow-light with a temporal delay of up to 3.4 ns.
In view of the possibility of using 87Rb atomic vapors as quantum memories,
this work makes an important step towards the realization of hybrid-quantum
systems for future quantum networks
Strain-Tuning of the Optical Properties of Semiconductor Nanomaterials by Integration onto Piezoelectric Actuators
The tailoring of the physical properties of semiconductor nanomaterials by
strain has been gaining increasing attention over the last years for a wide
range of applications such as electronics, optoelectronics and photonics. The
ability to introduce deliberate strain fields with controlled magnitude and in
a reversible manner is essential for fundamental studies of novel materials and
may lead to the realization of advanced multi-functional devices. A prominent
approach consists in the integration of active nanomaterials, in thin epitaxial
films or embedded within carrier nanomembranes, onto
Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3-based piezoelectric actuators, which convert electrical
signals into mechanical deformation (strain). In this review, we mainly focus
on recent advances in strain-tunable properties of self-assembled InAs quantum
dots embedded in semiconductor nanomembranes and photonic structures.
Additionally, recent works on other nanomaterials like rare-earth and metal-ion
doped thin films, graphene and MoS2 or WSe2 semiconductor two-dimensional
materials are also reviewed. For the sake of completeness, a comprehensive
comparison between different procedures employed throughout the literature to
fabricate such hybrid piezoelectric-semiconductor devices is presented. Very
recently, a novel class of micro-machined piezoelectric actuators have been
demonstrated for a full control of in-plane stress fields in nanomembranes,
which enables producing energy-tunable sources of polarization-entangled
photons in arbitrary quantum dots. Future research directions and prospects are
discussed.Comment: review manuscript, 78 pages, 27 figure
A cancer stem cell-like phenotype is associated with miR-10b expression in aggressive squamous cell carcinomas
Background
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCC) are the primary cause of premature deaths in patients suffering from the rare skin-fragility disorder recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), which is in marked contrast to the rarely metastasizing nature of these carcinomas in the general population. This remarkable difference is attributed to the frequent development of chronic wounds caused by impaired skin integrity. However, the specific molecular and cellular changes to malignancy, and whether there are common players in different types of aggressive cSCCs, remain relatively undefined.
Methods
MiRNA expression profiling was performed across various cell types isolated from skin and cSCCs. Microarray results were confirmed by qPCR and by an optimized in situ hybridization protocol. Functional impact of overexpression or knock-out of a dysregulated miRNA was assessed in migration and 3D-spheroid assays. Sample-matched transcriptome data was generated to support the identification of disease relevant miRNA targets.
Results
Several miRNAs were identified as dysregulated in cSCCs compared to control skin. These included the metastasis-linked miR-10b, which was significantly upregulated in primary cell cultures and in archival biopsies. At the functional level, overexpression of miR-10b conferred the stem cell-characteristic of 3D-spheroid formation capacity to keratinocytes. Analysis of miR-10b downstream effects identified a novel putative target of miR-10b, the actin- and tubulin cytoskeleton-associated protein DIAPH2.
Conclusion
The discovery that miR-10b mediates an aspect of cancer stemness – that of enhanced tumor cell adhesion, known to facilitate metastatic colonization – provides an important avenue for future development of novel therapies targeting this metastasis-linked miRNA
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