Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronik

In June, researchers from Zurich Instruments joined us at PDI for two days of joint experiments, bringing one of their advanced signal generators to our labs for testing. Together, we explored how acoustic waves can be harnessed in hybrid quantum devices—first by generating complex surface patterns such as acoustic vortices, and then by probing the coupling between microwave and optical photons mediated by acoustic fields. These experiments showcase both the versatility of acoustics in quantum research and the value of close collaboration between instrument developers and fundamental science.

In a recent open-access study published in Nano Express, a team from PDI presented a detailed analysis of energy use in their molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) facility and outlined practical steps taken to reduce it—ranging from operational adjustments to targeted equipment upgrades. Their findings offer valuable insights for other laboratories seeking to improve sustainability without compromising research performance.

PDI has announced a collaboration with scientific technology company Bizmuth MBE Ltd. to integrate intelligent automation into the growth of semiconductor materials. The six-month partnership, running from June to December 2025, is one of the first initiatives in Europe to apply large language models (LLMs) and multimodal AI to the autonomous control of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).

A new study by researchers at the Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronik (PDI), published in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, demonstrates a major advancement in the growth of high-quality indium gallium nitride (InₓGa₁₋ₓN) layers using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE).