Professor Brian David Gerardot, Heriot-Watt University

A single sheet of atoms offers the ultimate limit in miniaturization of flexible electronic and photonic devices. Beyond just physical size, two-dimensional crystals are intriguing due to highly unique optical, electronic, and mechanical properties. Professor Gerardot is investigating if such materials could be used in hardware for future technologies which exploit the bizarre properties of quantum mechanics.

For quantum devices, one must be able to control the number of particles, such as electrons, in the quantum device down to the ultimate limit: just zero or one particle. Professor Gerardot has achieved control over the quantum tunnelling between a source of electrons and a region to trap the electron. Quantum tunnelling is a well-established phenomenon whereby subatomic particles can pass through a solid barrier, such as a wall.