James L. Merz

Frank M. Freimann Professor of Engineering
Concurrent Professor of Physics

B.S., University of Notre Dame, 1959
M.A., Harvard University, 1961
Ph.D., ibid., 1967

Research Interests
Prof. Merz's primary research field is the optical spectroscopy of semiconductor nanostructures. Other fields of interest include optoelectronic devices and photonic integrated circuits, defects in solids, ion implantation and rapid annealing. Several projects are currently underway in his laboratory: (1) His group has measured the clustering of nitrogen in short-period superlattices of InGaAsN and GaAsN using near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) at magnetic fields up to 10 Tesla. Both weak and strong localization effects have been observed and are being investigated. (2) His group is developing a novel technique referred to as “nanoindentation”, where significant high-energy shifts of quantum dot (QD) emission have been induced by pressure applied by the near-field optical fiber probe in physical contact with the surface. This effect may be usable to allow sensitive modulated-pressure experiments, and to tune quantum dot emission to resonance with other dots for communications and computer applications. (3) Surface plasmon interactions between the optical field and metal cladding of an optical fiber are being investigated. (4) Photonic bandgap structures which contain QDs are being fabricated for possible quantum computing applications.

Selected Publications

“ Self-Organized Growth, Ripening, and Optical Properties of Wide-Bandgap II-VI Quantum Dots,” J.L. Merz, S. Lee, and J.K. Furdyna, J. Crystal Growth 184/185, 228-236 (1998).

“Near-field magneto-photoluminescence spectroscopy of composition fluctuations in InGaAsN,” A.M., Mintairov et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 277401 (2001).

“Local Strain Effects in Near-Field Spectra of Single Semiconductor Quantum Dots,” A.M. Mintairov et al., Proc. Materials Research Symposium Proceedings (Fall 2002).

Honors and Activities:
Fellow, American Physical Society

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