Photo luminescence of Cooper pairs in a naturally occurring heretostructure K$_{0.75}$Fe$_{1.75}$Se$_{2}$

TL;DR

This study demonstrates enhanced radiative recombination of Cooper pairs in a naturally occurring heterostructure of K$_{0.75}$Fe$_{1.75}$Se$_{2}$ below 28 K, revealing potential for quantum light sources in superconducting semiconductors.

Contribution

It reveals the natural heterostructure in KFS enables efficient Cooper pair radiative recombination, a novel observation in this material system.

Findings

Enhanced luminescence below T_c of 28 K.

Nearly 100% internal quantum efficiency at 10 K.

Natural heterostructure contains over 10^9 junctions per cm^3.

Abstract

Combining superconductor and semiconductors in nanostructure junctions was a challenging technological problem that attracted attention for long time [van Wees]. The radiative recombination of Cooper pairs was demonstrated, using a Nb/n-InGaAs/p-InP heterostructure [EL_Hayashi, PL_Hayashi], called Cooper pair LED [PL_Suemune, R_Suemune]. It has been suggested that the junction could produce entangled photon pairs [Benson, Gywat] needed for quantum information processing and communication. Here we demonstrate an enhanced radiative recombination of electron Copper pairs in inhomogeneous K$_{0.75}$Fe$_{1.75}$Se$_{2}$ (KFS) subjected to laser light upon cooling below superconducting transition temperature $T_{c}$ 28 K. The observation of this phenomena is possible due to fulfillment of the following three conditions: (1) Phase separation in superconducting KFS crystals is realized via naturally occurring heterostructure [mic_Charnukha, TEM_Wang]; (2) Partial Fe-vacancy ordered $n$-type semiconducting regions, sandwiched between Fe-vacancy free SC and vacancy-ordering AFM structure, forming active layers. The electronic structure of those active layer is tuned to induce Cooper pairs by the proximity effect [de Gennes] and/or to accept Cooper pair tunneling from the SC phase. In the active layer, the electron Cooper pair can radiatively recombine with two p-type holes [Asano] produced by laser photoexcitation; (3) In KFS nature provides at least 10$^{9}$ SC/$n$-type semiconducting/AFM insulating junctions per cm$^{3}$. For laser excitation energy of 1.92 eV ($\lambda $=647.1 nm) and power 0.68 mW focused to the spot of 40x80 $\mu $m$^{2}$ the estimated internal quantum efficiency of the natural heterostructure at 10 K in the luminescence range of 700 to 1300 nm is close to 100% and is likely limited by availability of the $p$-type holes.