QM2 - Quantum Matter and Materials | November 27, 14:30

Nonlinear Graphene Nanoplasmonics

Joel D. Cox

Nonlinear optics is limited by the weak nonlinear response of available materials, a problem that is generally circumvented by relying on macroscopic structures in which light propagates over many optical cycles, thus giving rise to accumulated unity-order nonlinear effects. While this strategy cannot be extended to subwavelength optics, one can alternatively use localized optical resonances with high quality factors to increase light-matter interaction times at the expense of inelastic losses associated with the nonlinear response. In this context, highly-doped graphene has been identified as a promising material platform for nonlinear optics that combines long-lived, electrically-tunable plasmons with an intensely anharmonic response to light originating from its unique electronic band structure. I will discuss recent progress in the exploration of nonlinear graphene plasmonics, starting with a description of the appealing properties of plasmons in graphene nanostructures down to molecular sizes, followed by a discussion of the unprecedented level of intrinsic optical nonlinearity in graphene and its enhancement by resonant coupling to its supported plasmons of high harmonic and Kerr nonlinearities, strong interactions of nonlinear plasmons with quantum emitters or amongst themselves, and the extraordinary thermo-optical capabilities of this material enabling nonlinear optical switching on the single-photon level.


University of Southern Denmark
lecture hall III (chemistry building)
Contact: Klas Lindfors