Researchers demonstrate orbital hybridization in graphene-based quantum dots
Researchers from Peking University and Beijing Normal University have reported orbital hybridization in graphene-based quantum dots, revealing how anisotropic confinement influences electronic states at the atomic scale. This represents a significant milestone in quantum physics and materials science, bridging the conceptual and experimental gap between artificial systems and the behaviors of real atoms.
Quantum dots, often described as artificial atoms, have been known to mimic certain characteristics of atomic orbitals. These nanostructures can recreate discrete energy levels and have successfully demonstrated artificial bonding and antibonding states. However, until now, they had not been used to simulate orbital hybridization—a fundamental process in real atoms where orbitals of different shapes and symmetries mix to form new, hybrid orbitals. This omission has limited the ability of artificial atoms to fully emulate the complexities of atomic structure. Moreover, a basic understanding of how anisotropic confinement—the directional variation in the spatial boundaries of a quantum dot—affects the potential for hybridization had been lacking.
Source: https://www.graphene-info.com/researchers-demonstrate-orbital-hybridization-graphene-based-quantum-dots
