Advancements in Nanoscale Light Sources: Unconventional Antenna Placement

Researchers at ETH Zurich have discovered a new mechanism for creating efficient nanoscale light sources by placing a semiconductor material outside the tunnel junction. By experimenting with the placement of tungsten disulfide, the researchers found that the semiconductor acted as an antenna, absorbing and re-emitting the energy created in the tunnel junction. This unexpected positioning resulted in improved light emission, although further improvements are needed. If successful, these nanoscale light sources could be a thousand times smaller than the wavelength of the light they produce, opening up new applications in data transfer and other technologies.