Nonlinear Terahertz Polaritonics in a Quantum Paraelectric

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Shen, Chao, Verdi, Carla, Babkin, Serafim, Serbyn, Maksym, Alpichshev, Zhanybek
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Shen, Chao
Verdi, Carla
Babkin, Serafim
Serbyn, Maksym
Alpichshev, Zhanybek
author_facet Shen, Chao
Verdi, Carla
Babkin, Serafim
Serbyn, Maksym
Alpichshev, Zhanybek
contents Terahertz (THz) frequency range holds immense potential for high-speed data processing and signal manipulation. However, a fundamental challenge remains: the efficient and tunable control of THz electromagnetic fields. One promising approach is polaritonic engineering, which leverages hybrid light-matter excitations to manipulate THz fields at sub-wavelength scales. Here, we introduce quantum paraelectric materials as a powerful new platform for THz phonon-polaritonics, leveraging the pronounced nonlinearities of incipient ferroelectrics. These nonlinearities enable strong self- and cross-coupling between polaritons, facilitating all-optical, reconfigurable THz signal control. Using a novel space- and time-resolved imaging technique, we directly observe the ballistic propagation of bulk phonon-polaritons in SrTiO$_3$, and uncover soliton-like, dispersion-free transport in its low-temperature, quantum-fluctuation-dominated phase. Our results establish quantum paraelectric solids as a versatile and highly tunable medium for next-generation THz photonics and ultrafast information processing.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_19358
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Nonlinear Terahertz Polaritonics in a Quantum Paraelectric
Shen, Chao
Verdi, Carla
Babkin, Serafim
Serbyn, Maksym
Alpichshev, Zhanybek
Optics
Other Condensed Matter
Terahertz (THz) frequency range holds immense potential for high-speed data processing and signal manipulation. However, a fundamental challenge remains: the efficient and tunable control of THz electromagnetic fields. One promising approach is polaritonic engineering, which leverages hybrid light-matter excitations to manipulate THz fields at sub-wavelength scales. Here, we introduce quantum paraelectric materials as a powerful new platform for THz phonon-polaritonics, leveraging the pronounced nonlinearities of incipient ferroelectrics. These nonlinearities enable strong self- and cross-coupling between polaritons, facilitating all-optical, reconfigurable THz signal control. Using a novel space- and time-resolved imaging technique, we directly observe the ballistic propagation of bulk phonon-polaritons in SrTiO$_3$, and uncover soliton-like, dispersion-free transport in its low-temperature, quantum-fluctuation-dominated phase. Our results establish quantum paraelectric solids as a versatile and highly tunable medium for next-generation THz photonics and ultrafast information processing.
title Nonlinear Terahertz Polaritonics in a Quantum Paraelectric
topic Optics
Other Condensed Matter
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.19358