The future of quantum technologies: superfluorescence from solution-processed, tunable materials

One of the most significant and surprising recent developments in nanocrystal studies was the observation of superfluorescence from a system of self-assembled, colloidal perovskite nanocrystals [G. Rainò, M. A. Becker, M. I. Bodnarchuk, R. F. Mahrt, M. V. Kovalenko, and T. Stöferle, “Superfluorescence from lead halide perovskite quantum dot superlattices,” Nature, vol. 563, no. 7733, pp. 671–675, 2018]. Superfluorescence is a quantum-light property in which many dipoles spontaneously synchronize in phase to create a collective, synergistic photon emission with a much faster lifetime. Thus, it is surprising to observe this in more inhomogenous systems as solution-processed and colloidal structures typically suffer from high optical decoherence and non-homogeneous size distributions. Here we outline recent developments in the demonstration of superfluorescence in colloidal and solution-processed systems and explore the chemical and materials science opportunities allowed by such systems. The ability to create bright and tunable superfluorescent sources could enable transformative developments in quantum information applications and advance our understanding of quantum phenomena.