Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Alexander Holleitner

Courses and Dates

Offered Bachelor’s or Master’s Theses Topics

Atomistically thin semiconducting 2D materials and their optical properties

Atomically thin van der Waals crystals form truly two-dimensional materials with remarkable quantum effects. Examples range from semi-metallic graphene to topological insulators and semiconducting materials with a thickness of only few atoms. The goal of this project is to characterize the fundamental symmetries of the underlying crystals and optical properties of such two-dimensional materials determined by optical means including Raman, photoluminescence (PL) and second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements, and to understand their optical properties particularly in two-dimensional heterostacks. The latter allow to build atomically thin field-effect, tunnelling, and photovoltaic devices. Interest and good knowledge in solid state physics, semiconductor physics, Python programming, optoelectronics or nanofabrication is a plus, but certainly not a must.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Applied and Engineering Physics

Supervisor: Alexander Holleitner

Determination of optical dipole of quantum emitters

In this project, the emitter dipole of single quantum emitters in two-dimensional materials shall be explored by applying a back-focal-plane imaging method. The back-focal-plane image in a microscope allows to determine whether the photon emitters exhibit an in-plane or out-of-plane dipole at the focal spot of the microscope. Moreover, the circular dichroism of the emission shall be explored to learn about he spin- and valley-selection rules of the underlying emitters. Both insights are essential for the interpretation of the wave-functions of the quantum emitters, and to what extend, the emitters can be modelled in terms of a two-level-system.

Interest or good knowledge in solid state physics, semiconductor physics, Python programming, optoelectronics or nanofabrication is a plus, but certainly not a must.

suitable as

• Master’s Thesis Quantum Science & Technology

Supervisor: Alexander Holleitner

Non-linear anomalous thermal transport in 2D materials with broken symmetry

In atomistic crystals with a broken inversion symmetry, a thermal gradient is supposed to generate a non-equilibrium spin-population at the edges of the material. So far, similar non-linear effects with an anomalous spin-population have been detected mainly by electronic means. This project explores the important impact of the thermal (phonon) bath on the spin-dynamics in corresponding crystals. Interest or good knowledge in solid state physics, semiconductor physics, Python programming, optoelectronics or nanofabrication is a plus, but certainly not a must.

suitable as

• Bachelor’s Thesis Physics

Supervisor: Alexander Holleitner