Dispersion engineering of infrared epsilon-near-zero modes by strong coupling to optical cavities

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Johns, Ben
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Johns, Ben
author_facet Johns, Ben
contents Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials have recently emerged as a promising platform for infrared nanophotonics. A significant challenge in the design of ENZ-based optics is to control the dispersion of ENZ modes, which otherwise have a flat profile near the ENZ frequency. Strong coupling with an optical cavity is a promising approach to ENZ dispersion engineering, which however has limitations due to the lack of tunability or nanofabrication demands of the cavity employed. Here, we theoretically and numerically show that much of the limitations of previous demonstrations can be overcome by strongly coupling the ENZ mode to an unpatterned Fabry-Perot cavity. We demonstrate this unprecedented ENZ dispersion control in coupled cavities by designing tunable infrared polarizers that can absorb s- and reflect p-polarized components, or vice versa, for almost any oblique angle of incidence, i.e. omnidirectional polarizers. The feasibility of active control is also demonstrated using a phase change material within the cavity, which predicts dynamic switchability of polariton dispersions across multiple resonant levels at mid-infrared wavelengths. These results are expected to advance the current understanding of strongly coupled ENZ interactions and demonstrate their potential in tailoring dispersions for active and passive control of light.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2303_17652
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Dispersion engineering of infrared epsilon-near-zero modes by strong coupling to optical cavities
Johns, Ben
Optics
Materials Science
Epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials have recently emerged as a promising platform for infrared nanophotonics. A significant challenge in the design of ENZ-based optics is to control the dispersion of ENZ modes, which otherwise have a flat profile near the ENZ frequency. Strong coupling with an optical cavity is a promising approach to ENZ dispersion engineering, which however has limitations due to the lack of tunability or nanofabrication demands of the cavity employed. Here, we theoretically and numerically show that much of the limitations of previous demonstrations can be overcome by strongly coupling the ENZ mode to an unpatterned Fabry-Perot cavity. We demonstrate this unprecedented ENZ dispersion control in coupled cavities by designing tunable infrared polarizers that can absorb s- and reflect p-polarized components, or vice versa, for almost any oblique angle of incidence, i.e. omnidirectional polarizers. The feasibility of active control is also demonstrated using a phase change material within the cavity, which predicts dynamic switchability of polariton dispersions across multiple resonant levels at mid-infrared wavelengths. These results are expected to advance the current understanding of strongly coupled ENZ interactions and demonstrate their potential in tailoring dispersions for active and passive control of light.
title Dispersion engineering of infrared epsilon-near-zero modes by strong coupling to optical cavities
topic Optics
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.17652