Reducing the emission lifetime of semiconductors

Renaissance architects demonstrated their understanding of geometry and physics when they built whispering galleries in cathedrals. These circular chambers were designed to amplify and direct sound waves so that, when standing on the right spot, a whisper could be heard from across the room. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania applied the same principle to drastically cut emission lifetime—a key property of semiconductors—that can lead to new ultrafast photonic devices.

The research, according to a release, was conducted by associate professor Ritesh Agarwal and his colleagues from the department of materials science and engineering in Penn's School of Engineering and Applied Science. The research was published in the journal Nature Materials.