quantum confinement
Electrons boxed small
Quantum confinement is a phenomenon in physics where particles trapped in very small spaces—typically nanometers—behave differently than they would in larger volumes.
When electrons are confined to dimensions approaching their wavelength, their energy levels become discrete rather than continuous, altering optical and electrical properties.
This effect makes quantum dots glow different colors depending on their size: Smaller quantum dots emit blue light, larger ones emit red.
- wavefunctionQuantum state's mathematical representation
- energy levelsGradations of physical vitality
- blueshiftLight compressed by approach
- nanowiresAtom-scale conductive strands
- Heisenberg uncertainty principleFundamental quantum measurement limit
Schrödinger equation · thin films · nanocrystals · quantized · photovoltaics · lasers · carbon nanotubes · graphene · photonics · tunneling · electron · biosensors · well · wavelength · emission · fluorescence · discrete · semiconductor
- nanophysicsnanowires, nanotubes, nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, graphene
- band structureenergy gap, band width, dispersion relation
- heterostructuresinterfaces, lattice mismatch, core-shell