Ultrafast Quantum Control: Harnessing Terahertz Light to Engineer 2D Materials

Terahertz light in 2D materials

Published: July 2025 | Source: Bielefeld University & IFW Dresden

In a groundbreaking development that fuses cutting-edge optics with quantum-scale materials engineering, physicists at Bielefeld University and the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden) have achieved what once seemed impossible: real-time control of atomically thin semiconductors using pulses of terahertz light. This new method, published in Nature Communications, opens the door to ultra-fast, light-driven electronics that operate on picosecond timescales.

The Light Revolution in Electronics

Traditional electronics depend on gating methods involving relatively slow electronic signals. In contrast, the new approach employs custom-engineered 3D–2D nanoantennas to transform terahertz radiation into strong vertical electric fields—reaching several megavolts per centimeter—within ultra-thin semiconductors such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂). This light-induced gating mechanism operates orders of magnitude faster than any conventional method.

“Our approach uses the terahertz light itself to generate the control signal within the semiconductor material,” said Professor Dmitry Turchinovich, the project leader. “It allows for an industry-compatible, ultrafast optoelectronic technology that was not possible until now.”

Controlling Electrons at the Speed of Light

With light pulses shorter than one trillionth of a second, the team was able to dynamically and reversibly manipulate the optical and electronic properties of 2D materials. These include properties critical for data transmission, laser systems, cameras, and quantum computing.

The nanoantennas that make this feat possible were fabricated at IFW Dresden by a group led by Dr. Andy Thomas. These intricate devices underwent extensive optimization before reaching the required field strengths and stability.

Applications on the Horizon

Real-time control of 2D semiconductors via terahertz pulses could revolutionize fields such as:

  • Optoelectronics – Faster and more efficient light-controlled switches and processors
  • Quantum Technologies – Precision manipulation of quantum states at ultrafast speeds
  • Terahertz Imaging & Sensing – Development of sensitive detectors for spectroscopy and medical diagnostics
  • Neuromorphic Computing – Devices mimicking neural behavior with minimal energy cost

Lead author Dr. Tomoki Hiraoka, a Marie Skล‚odowska-Curie Fellow, described the moment of discovery: “Seeing such a strong and coherent effect induced purely by terahertz light pulses was very rewarding.”

The Road Ahead

This achievement marks a significant stride toward light-controlled, transistor-free logic circuits and possibly even quantum-scale communication systems. The ability to tune electronic properties without contact or conventional voltage sources is not just an engineering feat—it’s a paradigm shift.

As materials science continues to push boundaries, such light-based technologies might soon become a staple in our everyday devices—bringing us closer to a world where computation, sensing, and communication are limited not by hardware, but only by the speed of light itself.

๐Ÿ”— Original article: Phys.org - Physicists use terahertz light to manipulate electronic properties in 2D materials

๐Ÿ“„ Journal publication: Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60588-6)

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