CeNS Colloquium

Frank Koppens, ICFO – The Institute of Photonics Sciences, Barcelona

We discuss 2D-material heterostructures as nano-lego for light. In particular, we will show nano-optoelectronic devices that demonstrate the exciting properties of 2D polaritons2,3,4,5,6, such as plasmon, phonon and exciton polaritons. We challenge the limits of quantum light-matter interactions and study the fundamental limits of optical field confinement, down to the length-scale of single atoms2. Some device applications, such as detectors for infrared and THz light, and intersubband transitions for infrared light will also be shown.

Moreover, we discuss the extraordinary topological and quantum properties of novel two-dimensional materials. In particular, we address effects of Berry curvature and electron interactions on infrared and Terahertz collective excitations.

References

1. Polaritons in layered two-dimensional materials. Low et al., Nature Materials (2017)
2. Probing the ultimate plasmon confinement limits with a van der Waals heterostructures. Alcarez et al., Science (2018).
3. Tuning quantum non-local effects in graphene plasmonics. Lundeberg et al., Science (2017)
4. Electrical 2pi phase control of infrared light in a 350-nm footprint using graphene plasmons. A. Woessner et al., Nature Photonics (2017)