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Quantum dots

A new quantum state?

In bulk semiconductors, the absorption of one photon of energy greater than the bandgap leads to one exciton. In quantum dots, however, it could be possible to create multiple excitons from a single high-energy photon, a finding with dramatic implications for the efficiencies of devices such as solar cells.

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Figure 1: Absorption of a high-energy photon leads to a state that is a superposition of a single exciton and multiple excitons of identical total energy.

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Guyot-Sionnest, P. A new quantum state?. Nature Mater 4, 653–654 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1473

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