Phonon-polaritonics: enabling powerful capabilities for infrared photonics
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Date
2019-09-17
Authors
Foteinopoulou, Stavroula
Devarapu Ganga Chinna, Rao
Subramania Ganapathi, S.
Krishna, Sanjay
Wasserman, Daniel
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
De Gruyter
Published Version
Abstract
Here, we review the progress and most recent advances in phonon-polaritonics, an emerging and growing field that has brought about a range of powerful possibilities for mid- to far-infrared (IR) light. These extraordinary capabilities are enabled by the resonant coupling between the impinging light and the vibrations of the material lattice, known as phonon-polaritons (PhPs). These PhPs yield a characteristic optical response in certain materials, occurring within an IR spectral window known as the reststrahlen band. In particular, these materials transition in the reststrahlen band from a high-refractive-index behavior, to a near-perfect metal behavior, to a plasmonic behavior – typical of metals at optical frequencies. When anisotropic they may also possess unconventional photonic constitutive properties thought of as possible only with metamaterials. The recent surge in two-dimensional (2D) material research has also enabled PhP responses with atomically-thin materials. Such vast and extraordinary photonic responses can be utilized for a plethora of unusual effects for IR light. Examples include sub-diffraction surface wave guiding, artificial magnetism, exotic photonic dispersions, thermal emission enhancement, perfect absorption and enhanced near-field heat transfer. Finally, we discuss the tremendous potential impact of these IR functionalities for the advancement of IR sources and sensors, as well as for thermal management and THz-diagnostic imaging.
Description
Keywords
Phonon-polaritons , Superabsorbers , Photonic crystals , Infrared light , Plasmonics , Metamaterials , THz gap
Citation
Foteinopoulou, S., Devarapu Ganga Chinna, R., Subramania Ganapathi, S., Krishna, S. and Wasserman, D. 2019. Phonon-polaritonics: enabling powerful capabilities for infrared photonics. Nanophotonics, 8(12), pp. 2129-2175. doi: 10.1515/nanoph-2019-0232