title: Terahertz and gigahertz emission from an all-silicon nanocrystal.
abstract: Based on first-principles calculations, we predict the use of pure silicon nanocrystals as nano-oscillators in the giga- and terahertz region. Small- and large-amplitude, one-dimensional vibrations are observed. The former are spontaneously excited thermally at frequencies around 3 THz. Large-amplitude vibrations originate from oscillations between the inversion geometries of the nanocrystal and can be caused either classically by an external excitation or by quantum tunneling. The latter causes a ground-state splitting of 4.2 GHz, suggesting the use of the proposed nanocrystals as laser elements in a configuration analogous to that of the ammonia maser.
authors.affiliation: CNRS-LPICM, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vach
mesh_terms: D008958:Models, Molecular; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods; D055053:Terahertz Radiation; D055068:Terahertz Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012825:Silicon