Final Report Summary - QOCAN (Quantum optics of carbon nanostructures) The project joins two different important fields of modern physics and technology: The first one is devoted to studies of carbon-based nanostructures, the second deals with strong light-matter interaction within quantum optics methodology. The main goal of this interdisciplinary theoretical research is to combine the efforts of scientific teams from different countries in achieving the following objectives:- to develop fundamentals of the interaction between carbon nanostructures and quantum light;- to reveal and analyse various quantum-electrodynamics effects in carbon nanostructures;- to create a theoretical basis for using carbon nanostructures as elements of novel optoelectronic nanodevices. Since the beginning of the project, the work is performed in accordance with the Work Plan distributed between the three Work Packages (WP): 1. Quantum optics of graphene2. Quantum optics of carbon nanotubes 3. Quantum-optical properties of carbon nanostructures in the terahertz frequency rangeWithin the WP1, the main efforts were directed to the elaboration of the theory of quantum electrodynamics of graphene, the theory of electron states in graphene subjected to a quantized field, the theory of cavity electrodynamics of graphene and the elaboration of electrodynamics of graphene-based devices. Within the WP2, the theory of electronic properties of carbon nanotubes in the presence of a quantum light has been elaborated, the cavity electrodynamics of carbon nanotubes has been carried out, the analysis of quantum electrodynamic of carbon nanotubes has been performed and the electrodynamics of CNT-based devices was elaborated.Within the WP3, we formulated and justified several proposals utilizing unique electronic properties of carbon-based nanostructures for a broad range of applications to terahertz optoelectronics, including the theory of terahertz properties of carbon nanotubes, the theory of terahertz properties of graphene, and the theory of terahertz emitters and detectors based on carbon nanostructures.The collaboration between scientists from condensed matter and quantum optics communities lies at the core of the project. In the course of the project, this collaboration will help to develop a conceptual response to new requirements of the nanoscience development. Indeed, a convergence of the two research communities, the condensed matter community (which traditionally works with nanostructures) and the quantum optics community (which traditionally works with atomic and molecular systems), is evident as a new tendency. Following this tendency, the project supplies to the “research market” a new scientific language for describing quantum optical phenomena in novel carbon-based nanostructures, which is extremely important for both communities from the viewpoint of basic science.
