Researchers at Stony Brook University have developed a new nanoscopy platform called bolometric superconducting optical nanoscopy (BOSON), which combines bolometric detection at superconducting transition edges with near-field optical techniques. This innovation enables the mapping of photoinduced changes in superconductivity with high spatial resolution and photon sensitivity, according to a recent paper published by the American Physiological Society.
“By incorporating BOSON with low-dimensional materials, we achieved polariton imaging at nanowatt excitation levels — at least four orders of magnitude lower than the power typically required in prior near-field nanoscopy experiments,” said Mengkun Liu, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “Our findings highlight the potential for BOSON to advance scanning-probe-based optical platforms to enable the detection of photons, polaritons, and Cooper pair dynamics at the nanoscale. This paves the way for quantum sensing applications using single-polariton detection and can offer deeper insights into quasiparticle dynamics.”
Stony Brook University has been increasing its focus on quantum education and research. The university recently led a team that secured $4 million to develop a 10-node quantum network. Liu noted that while there is progress in quantum networks, there remains a need for better tools for characterizing quantum materials and supporting quantum material and sensing applications. His group’s research has received $3 million in funding from sources including the Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The team plans further development of their technique to reach even lower temperatures for enhanced sensing applications.
“Our research is very different from the research being done regarding quantum networks, filling a gap in quantum material research, which is a basic and fundamental characterization of the quantum materials that form these quantum systems,” said Liu. “With this we can now do research on the quantum material side. We can go to low temperatures and we can do nano-scale measurement in high magnetic fields. If we can go to even lower temperatures, for example 1°K (-457°F), then we can build larger collaborations with different facilities and institutions to make it even more powerful.”
Jing Ran, a research fellow working with Liu’s group, outlined three main benefits of this work for Stony Brook University.
“We designed this experiment knowing that near-field communications is a growing community,” said Ran. “It started around 20 years ago and is getting larger and larger, and a constant focus is how near-field optics can contribute to fundamental quantum physics. We can now apply this optic technique to contribute to traditional material research like superconductors.”
Near-field communication protocols allow electronic devices to communicate over microscopic distances—a technology relevant not only for communication but also potentially applicable on photonics computer chips.
“One key focus that we were constantly working on was that we ultimately can extract nanoscale information and optical information from these conductors,” said Ran. “That was our goal when we designed this experiment.”
Ran also highlighted increased attention from government agencies and academia toward advancing fields such as quantum computing, sensing, and information science.
“We need to think about how Stony Brook can contribute to these efforts,” said Ran. “Right now there is no effective method to approach these topics at the nanoscale with low-energy photons and low photon counts, but we are taking real steps into the material and devices that are used in quantum computing based on condensed matter systems. We would like to contribute to this community and bring valid information.”
The third benefit involves shaping future directions for near-field techniques themselves.
“Near-field is a technique that bridges optics and material size,” said Ran. “In addition to working on the materials side, on the optics side we’re thinking about whether we can do single-photon detection at the nanoscale. Single-photon detection is related to quantum computing and quantum science because it’s the best platform that can support quantum sensing and quantum computation. Right now there are only few groups in the world who can do it. So how we can do it?”
According to Ran, solving this challenge could open new opportunities within near-field research communities: “Building on the BOSON framework, future work will aim to extend the capabilities of superconductor-based nanoscopy, covering a broader frequency range, unveiling local superconductivity dynamics, and potentially achieving single-photon or-polariton imaging nanoscopy for quantum science applications.”
Boyi Zhou—associate research scientist at Columbia University—serves as co-first author on this work alongside Liu’s team members: “It sounds like we’re piecing a puzzle together but we can extract optical information and nanoscale off a superconductor—and in this process it becomes a very nice platform for quantum sensing in nanoscale,” Zhou stated.“This brings many benefits to our community.And the overall physics when we think about what this community cares about right now—we are really on the frontier of what is possible.”
Liu indicated his team has worked nearly three years toward these results as part of an ongoing five-year project.The next objective involves reaching even lower operational temperatures—which may broaden application scope.Increased capability could also help Stony Brook collaborate globally by enabling study of previously inaccessible samples.“We expect this work will extend further to other applications and allow us establish collaborations worldwide very quickly.”
He credited Stony Brook’s infrastructure—including state-of-the-art facilities,a partnership with Brookhaven National Laboratory,and an interdisciplinary scientific environment—for making such progress possible.This ecosystem supports technical innovation through mentorship,cross-disciplinary exchange,and institutional backing necessary for advanced frontier research.
Liu acknowledged institutional support as critical:“This year,we received very generous matching funds from College Arts Sciences,Brookhaven Affairs,the Department Physics Astronomy,the Provost Office,and Office Research Innovation.We are especially grateful Nina Maung-Gaona,senior associate vice president for research innovation at Stony Brook—for her invaluable guidance support throughout long journey.”
