Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
08:31
Luminescence Resonance Energy Transfer to Study Conformational Changes in Membrane Proteins Expressed in Mammalian Cells
Published on: September 16, 2014
Luminescence of a cooper pair
Yasuhiro Asano1, Ikuo Suemune, Hideaki Takayanagi
1Department of Applied Physics, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8628, Japan.
Physical Review Letters
|November 13, 2009
Summary
This study shows how Cooper pair recombination in superconducting p-n junctions enhances light emission. These findings highlight the potential for advanced superconducting light-emitting devices.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Quantum Optics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Superconducting devices offer unique electronic properties.
- Photon emission from electronic transitions is a key phenomenon.
- Understanding light emission in superconductors is crucial for device applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically investigate photon emission spectra in superconducting p-n junctions.
- To elucidate the mechanism behind luminescence enhancement.
- To correlate theoretical predictions with experimental observations.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing second-order perturbation theory for electron-photon interactions.
- Modeling the recombination process of Cooper pairs with p-type carriers.
- Calculating and analyzing photon emission spectra.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that Cooper pair recombination significantly enhances luminescence intensity.
- Theoretical photon emission spectra align with experimental data.
- Identified specific spectral features attributable to the superconducting mechanism.
Conclusions:
- The recombination of Cooper pairs is a key factor in light emission from superconducting p-n junctions.
- Theoretical model successfully explains experimental observations.
- Superconducting light-emitting devices exhibit high functionality and potential for future applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Photoluminescence: Fluorescence and Phosphorescence
Photoluminescence is a process where a molecule absorbs light energy and re-emits it in the form of light. This phenomenon occurs when a substance absorbs photons, promoting its electrons to higher energy level excited states, followed by a relaxation process in which the electrons return to their original ground state energy levels and emit light. Photoluminescence is widely observed in various materials, including semiconductors, and organic and inorganic compounds.
A pair of electrons in a...
A pair of electrons in a...
01:14Photoluminescence: Applications
Photoluminescence offers a wide range of applications due to its inherent sensitivity and selectivity. This technique allows for both direct and indirect analyses of the analyte. Direct quantitative analysis is possible when the analyte exhibits a favorable quantum yield for fluorescence or phosphorescence. However, an indirect analysis may be feasible if the analyte is not fluorescent or phosphorescent, or if the quantum yield is unfavorable. Indirect methods include reacting the analyte with...
01:26Variables Affecting Phosphorescence and Fluorescence
Fluorescence and phosphorescence are essential phenomena in fields like analytical chemistry, biological imaging, and materials science, where they detect molecular properties and visualize cellular structures. Understanding the variables that influence these luminescent behaviors is crucial for maximizing accuracy and efficiency in their applications. These variables can broadly be grouped into chemical structure, solvent properties, and external conditions, each playing a distinct role in...
01:25Fluorescence and Phosphorescence: Instrumentation
Fluorometers and spectrofluorometers are two types of instruments used for measuring molecular fluorescence. These instruments differ in how they select excitation and emission wavelengths and the type of light sources they utilize. Fluorometers use absorption interference filters to choose excitation and emission wavelengths. The excitation source in a fluorometer is typically a low-pressure mercury vapor lamp that emits intense lines distributed throughout the ultraviolet and visible regions.
01:25Deactivation Processes: Jablonski Diagram
Luminescence, the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed energy, is a process that involves the interaction of molecules with light. The energy-level diagram, or Jablonski diagram, is a graphical representation of these interactions, illustrating the various states and transitions a molecule can undergo. In a typical Jablonski diagram, the lowest horizontal line represents the ground-state energy of the molecule, which is usually a singlet state. This state represents the energies...
02:26Photoelectric Effect
When light of a particular wavelength strikes a metal surface, electrons are emitted. This is called the photoelectric effect. The minimum frequency of light that can cause such emission of electrons is called the threshold frequency, which is specific to the metal. Light with a frequency lower than the threshold frequency, even if it is of high intensity, cannot initiate the emission of electrons. However, when the frequency is higher than the threshold value, the number of electrons ejected...