Tunneling induced transparency and slow light in an asymmetric double quantum dot molecule—Metal nanoparticle hybrid

Abstract

We investigate the optical properties appearing in a nanostructure that is composed of an asymmetric double semiconductor quantum dot (SQD) molecule and a metal nanoparticle (MNP). The profile of the total linear absorption spectrum is proportional to the SQD contribution, while the MNP contribution is important. The profile of the doublet of resonances detected on the total linear absorption spectrum creates a transparency window. The doublet is asymmetric for small SQD-MNP distances and has a narrow peak and a wide peak. The width of the transparency window is increased, either with the enhancement of the rate at which the electron tunneling effect takes place within the double SQD molecule or with the decrease of the distance that separates the SQD molecule from the center of the MNP. The steep slope detected on the linear dispersion spectrum for frequencies laying within the transparency window owes its presence to the tunneling induced transparency and leads to slow light production. The corresponding value of the slow down factor is maximized for low values of the electron tunneling rate as well as for low center-to-center distances between the components of the hybrid nanostructure.