We study basic phenomena in indirect excitons (IXs). IXs are bound pairs of spatially separated electrons and holes created in semiconductor structures. Due to their long lifetimes, IXs cool below the temperature of quantum degeneracy. This allows the realization and studying of cold bosons in semiconductors. IX parameters are controlled by structure design, voltage, and light and IX properties are measured by optical spectroscopy at temperatures from 50 mK in optical dilution refrigerator to room temperature. Phenomena studied by the group in IX systems include new states of matter, Bose-Einstein condensations and spontaneous coherence, mesoscopics of bosons, pattern formation, transport and localization, spin currents and spin textures, bosons in magnetic fields, and correlations.

We also explore IXs for the development of excitonic devices. Excitonic devices studied by the group include excitonic transistors, conveyers, ramps, and photon storage devices.

Distinctions of students of the group:
2017: Chelsey Dorow selected as 2018 Inamori Fellow
2017: Chelsey Dorow selected as an Honorary 2017-2018 STEM Chateaubriand Fellow
2017: Jason Leonard selected as a Springer Thesis Award recipient
2015: Chelsey Dorow received NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for 2015-2018
2014: Jason Leonard named an Achievement Reward for College Scientists Scholar for 2014-15
2013: Jason Leonard named an Achievement Reward for College Scientists Scholar for 2013-14
2013: Yuliya Kuznetsova selected as an Intel Fellowship recipient
2012: Michael Chu selected as a Physical Sciences Dean's Undergraduate Award for Excellence recipient
2011: Alex High selected as an Intel Fellowship recipient
2011: Jason Leonard selected as a Chateaubriand Fellowship recipient
2011: Alex High named an Achievement Reward for College Scientists Scholar