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Title: Two-state theory of binned photon statistics for a large class of waiting time distributions and its application to quantum dot blinking

Abstract

A theoretical method is proposed for the calculation of the photon counting probability distribution during a bin time. Two-state fluorescence and steady excitation are assumed. A key feature is a kinetic scheme that allows for an extensive class of stochastic waiting time distribution functions, including power laws, expanded as a sum of weighted decaying exponentials. The solution is analytic in certain conditions, and an exact and simple expression is found for the integral contribution of “bright” and “dark” states. As an application for power law kinetics, theoretical results are compared with experimental intensity histograms from a number of blinking CdSe/ZnS quantum dots. The histograms are consistent with distributions of intensity states around a “bright” and a “dark” maximum. A gap of states is also revealed in the more-or-less flat inter-peak region. The slope and to some extent the flatness of the inter-peak feature are found to be sensitive to the power-law exponents. Possible models consistent with these findings are discussed, such as the combination of multiple charging and fluctuating non-radiative channels or the multiple recombination center model. A fitting of the latter to experiment provides constraints on the interaction parameter between the recombination centers. Further extensions and applications of themore » photon counting theory are also discussed.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Noyes Laboratory of Chemical Physics, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22420092
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Chemical Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 140; Journal Issue: 22; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-9606
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; CADMIUM SELENIDES; DISTRIBUTION; DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS; EXCITATION; FLUORESCENCE; INTERACTIONS; PEAKS; PHOTONS; QUANTUM DOTS; RECOMBINATION; ZINC SULFIDES

Citation Formats

Volkán-Kacsó, Sándor. Two-state theory of binned photon statistics for a large class of waiting time distributions and its application to quantum dot blinking. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4881460.
Volkán-Kacsó, Sándor. Two-state theory of binned photon statistics for a large class of waiting time distributions and its application to quantum dot blinking. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4881460
Volkán-Kacsó, Sándor. 2014. "Two-state theory of binned photon statistics for a large class of waiting time distributions and its application to quantum dot blinking". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4881460.
@article{osti_22420092,
title = {Two-state theory of binned photon statistics for a large class of waiting time distributions and its application to quantum dot blinking},
author = {Volkán-Kacsó, Sándor},
abstractNote = {A theoretical method is proposed for the calculation of the photon counting probability distribution during a bin time. Two-state fluorescence and steady excitation are assumed. A key feature is a kinetic scheme that allows for an extensive class of stochastic waiting time distribution functions, including power laws, expanded as a sum of weighted decaying exponentials. The solution is analytic in certain conditions, and an exact and simple expression is found for the integral contribution of “bright” and “dark” states. As an application for power law kinetics, theoretical results are compared with experimental intensity histograms from a number of blinking CdSe/ZnS quantum dots. The histograms are consistent with distributions of intensity states around a “bright” and a “dark” maximum. A gap of states is also revealed in the more-or-less flat inter-peak region. The slope and to some extent the flatness of the inter-peak feature are found to be sensitive to the power-law exponents. Possible models consistent with these findings are discussed, such as the combination of multiple charging and fluctuating non-radiative channels or the multiple recombination center model. A fitting of the latter to experiment provides constraints on the interaction parameter between the recombination centers. Further extensions and applications of the photon counting theory are also discussed.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4881460},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22420092}, journal = {Journal of Chemical Physics},
issn = {0021-9606},
number = 22,
volume = 140,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jun 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Sat Jun 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}