Researchers from MIPT's Laboratory of 2-D Materials, Optoelectronics, Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics, and Tohoku University (Japan) have theoretically demonstrated the possibility of creating compact sources of coherent plasmons, which are the basic building blocks for future optoelectronic circuits. The theoretical device is based on the unique properties of van der Waals heterostructures – composites of graphene and related layered materials. A paper detailing the study has been published in the journal Physical Review B.
Plasmons are quasi-particles that are "mixtures" of oscillating electrons and the electromagnetic field coupled with them. Plasmons can be used to generate, transmit and receive signals in integrated circuits. They can act as mediators between electrons and light waves in highly efficient photodetectors and sources, particularly in the actively explored terahertz range. It is interesting to note that plasmon energy can be stored at a length scale much less than the wavelength of light. This means that plasmonic devices can be far more compact than their photonic counterparts. The most "compressed" plasmons are those that are bound to the conducting planes, and these plasmons can be used to make the most compact optoelectronic devices.
To read more, click here.