Stony Brook University researchers have introduced a new nanoscopy platform that could advance quantum sensing and material characterization. The platform, called bolometric superconducting optical nanoscopy (BOSON), integrates bolometric detection at superconducting transition edges with near-field optical techniques. According to a paper published by the American Physiological Society, BOSON enables mapping of photoinduced changes in superconductivity with high spatial resolution and photon sensitivity.
“By incorporating BOSON with low-dimensional materials, we achieved polariton imaging at nanowatt excitation levels — at least four orders of magnitude lower than the power typically required in prior near-field nanoscopy experiments,” said Mengkun Liu, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook. “Our findings highlight the potential for BOSON to advance scanning-probe-based optical platforms to enable the detection of photons, polaritons, and Cooper pair dynamics at the nanoscale. This paves the way for quantum sensing applications using single-polariton detection and can offer deeper insights into quasiparticle dynamics.”
The university has recently received a $4 million grant to develop a 10-node quantum network. While this initiative focuses on quantum networking, Liu noted that there is still a lack of tools for traditional quantum computing and material characterization. His research aims to fill this gap by supporting applications in quantum materials and sensing, backed by funding from the Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation totaling $3 million. The team plans further development to achieve even lower temperatures and improve sensing capabilities.
“Our research is very different from the research being done regarding quantum networks, filling a gap in quantum material research, which is a basic and fundamental characterization of the quantum materials that form these quantum systems,” said Liu. “With this we can now do research on the quantum material side. We can go to low temperatures and we can do nano-scale measurement in high magnetic fields. If we can go to even lower temperatures, for example 1°K (-457°F), then we can build larger collaborations with different facilities and institutions to make it even more powerful.”
Jing Ran, a research fellow working in Liu’s group, described three main benefits for Stony Brook stemming from this work.
“We designed this experiment knowing that near-field communications is a growing community,” said Ran. “It started around 20 years ago and is getting larger and larger, and a constant focus is how near-field optics can contribute to fundamental quantum physics. We can now apply this optic technique to contribute to traditional material research like superconductors.”
Near-field communication refers to protocols allowing electronic devices to communicate over microscopic distances; one application could be photonics computer chips.
“One key focus that we were constantly working on was that we ultimately can extract nanoscale information and optical information from these conductors,” said Ran. “That was our goal when we designed this experiment.”
Ran also highlighted increased attention from government and academia toward quantum computing, sensing, and information science.
“We need to think about how Stony Brook can contribute to these efforts,” said Ran. “Right now there is no effective method to approach these topics at the nanoscale with low-energy photons and low photon counts, but we are taking real steps into the material and devices that are used in quantum computing based on condensed matter systems. We would like to contribute to this community and bring valid information.”
A third benefit involves shaping near-field techniques themselves.
“Near-field is a technique that bridges optics and material size,” said Ran. “In addition to working on the materials side, on the optics side we’re thinking about whether we can do single-photon detection at the nanoscale. Single-photon detection is related to quantum computing and quantum science, because it’s the best platform that can support quantum sensing and quantum computation. Right now there are only few groups in the world who can do it. So how we can do it?”
Ran added that solving this challenge would expand possibilities for those studying near-field effects: “Building on the BOSON framework, future work will aim to extend the capabilities of superconductor-based nanoscopy, covering a broader frequency range, unveiling local superconductivity dynamics, and potentially achieving single-photon or-polariton imaging nanoscopy for quantum science applications.”
“It sounds like we’re piecing a puzzle together, but we can extract optical information and nanoscale off a superconductor, and in this process it becomes a very nice platform for quantum sensing in nanoscale,” said Boyi Zhou of Columbia University, co-first author of the paper. “This brings many benefits to our community. And the overall physics—when we think about what this community cares about right now—we are really on the frontier of what is possible.”
Liu’s team has been developing BOSON as part of an ongoing five-year project; their next step will be lowering operating temperatures further so they may access additional applications or collaborate internationally with other institutions.
He credited Stony Brook’s infrastructure—including partnerships with Brookhaven National Laboratory—and its collaborative environment as factors enabling such advances: The university provides state-of-the-art facilities along with mentorship opportunities essential for innovative scientific progress.
“This year," Liu added,"we received very generous matching funds from College of Arts & Sciences,Brookhaven Affairs,the Department Physics & Astronomy,the Provost's Office,and Office Research & Innovation.We are especially grateful Nina Maung-Gaona,sr.associate vice president research innovation Stony Brook—for her invaluable guidance support throughout long journey."
– Robert Emproto