LMI Seminar: Ultrastrong Light-Matter Interactions via Extreme Nanocavity Polaritons

Abstract:

Advances in nanofabrication techniques have enabled researchers to explore light-matter interactions in previously inaccessible extreme sub-wavelength cavities. Polaritons – quasiparticles originating from strong light-matter coupling – in resonant nanocavities provide extreme light confinement that is difficult to achieve with conventional diffractive optical cavities.

I will present new approaches to design and fabricate sub-10-nm resonant cavities and the observation of plasmons and phonon-polaritons in both vertical nanocavities (nano-coax) and horizontal nanocavities. Next, I will describe a new device structure – ‘image polariton’ resonator – that can be coupled with graphene, boron nitride, or other 2D materials to probe ultraconfined polaritons with high coupling efficiency.

Potential applications of these resonant nanocavities include infrared sensing, optoelectronics, photodetection, molecule trapping, and on-chip waveguide integration.