Atomic Lattice Excitation Yields Understanding of Quantum Dots’ Limits

At low energy levels, quantum dots are able to absorb light and convert it to a different color at nearly 100% efficiency. At higher excitation energies required for brighter screens and other technologies, the level of efficiency drops dramatically. The conclusions are a result of experimentation conducted by researchers at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. To make sense of the process, the researchers employed a high-speed electron camera to watch the dots turn incoming high-energy laser light into their own glowing light emissions. Experiments showed that the incoming high-energy laser light ejected electrons from the dots’ atoms, and that their corresponding holes — empty spots with...