US 6,978,070 B1 · Fiber incorporating quantum dots as programmable dopants

Abstract

A programmable dopant fiber includes a plurality of quantum structures formed on a fiber-shaped substrate, wherein the substrate includes one or more energy-carrying control paths (34), possibly surrounded by an insulator (35), which pass energy to quantum structures. Quantum structures may include quantum dot particles (37) on the surface of the fiber or electrodes (30) on top of barrier layers (31) and transport layer (32) which form quantum dot devices (QD). The energy passing through the control paths (34) drives charge carriers into the quantum dots (QD), leading to the formation of “artificial atoms” with real-time tunable properties. These artificial atoms then serve as programmable dopants, which alter the behavior of surrounding materials. The fiber can be used as a programmable dopant inside bulk materials, as a building block for new materials with unique properties, or as a substitute for quantum dots or quantum wires in certain applications.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A device for producing quantum effects, comprising:

a material fashioned into an elongated fiber shape;
one or more control paths which carry energy along said material;
a plurality of quantum dots, physically connected with said material and energetically connected to said control paths;
wherein
the energy carried in said control paths actuate the quantum dots to trap and hold a controlled configuration of charge carriers, thus forming artificial atoms whose size, shape, atomic number, and/or energy level are dependent on the energies in said control paths.

2 more elements

A device for producing quantum effects, the device comprising:

a material fashioned into an elongated fiber shape;
a plurality of quantum dots, physically connected with said material;
at least one control path physically connected with said material and operatively coupled with said plurality of quantum dots, wherein said at least one control path is adapted to carry energy from an energy source to said plurality of quantum dots;
and
a plurality of charge carriers capable of being confined within said plurality of quantum dots to form a respective plurality of artificial atoms;
wherein said energy is adapted to stimulate each quantum dot of said plurality of quantum dots to thereby confine a respective subset of said plurality of charge carriers within each said quantum dot to form a respective one of said plurality of artificial atoms;
wherein said energy determines the size, shape, atomic number, and/or energy level of each artificial atom of said respective plurality of artificial atoms confined in each respective quantum dot;
and
wherein said plurality of artificial atoms alter the electrical, optical, thermal, magnetic, mechanical, and/or chemical properties of said material.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fiber incorporating quantum dots as programmable dopants

Life of this patent

Fiber incorporating quantum dots as programmable dopants

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23