Fabrication of 3D quantum optical devices by pick-and-place forming

In order to quantum-mechanically inhibit or enhance the radiation of photons from an atom, fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) micro structures called quantum optical devices are desirable. This paper proposes pick-and-place forming, which is a unique fabrication method of 3D micro structures by heaping up fine particles typically ranging from 10 nm to 1 μm in diameter with a micro manipulator under scanning electron microscope monitoring. A quantum optical device called a photonic crystal made of 35 polymer spheres of 2.0 μm in diameter was successfully constructed. Experiments show the Bragg reflection of light wave peculiar to 3D periodic structure, and proves the feasibility of the quantum optical devices and the effectiveness of this fabrication technique