Long-range optical coupling with epsilon-near-zero materials

Danqing Wang (), Zheyu Lu, Sorren Warkander, Niharika Gupta, Qingjun Wang, Penghong Ci, Ruihan Guo, Jiachen Li, Ali Javey, Jie Yao, Feng Wang and Junqiao Wu ()
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Danqing Wang: Fudan University
Zheyu Lu: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Sorren Warkander: Berkeley
Niharika Gupta: Berkeley
Qingjun Wang: Berkeley
Penghong Ci: Berkeley
Ruihan Guo: Berkeley
Jiachen Li: Berkeley
Ali Javey: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Jie Yao: Berkeley
Feng Wang: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Junqiao Wu: Berkeley

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Long-range resonant quantum tunneling of electrons happens across potential barriers when the wavefunction interferes constructively outside the barrier. Here we demonstrate an analogy in optical systems based on epsilon-near-zero materials, achieving phase-modulated, long-range optical interactions between transparent semiconducting oxide layers beyond the evanescent photonic coupling. Distinct from weak thin-film interference, intense electromagnetic fields confined within the epsilon-near-zero thin films show anti-correlated intensity oscillations as a function of interlayer separation up to hundreds of microns. The oscillatory, anti-correlated electromagnetic field intensities were probed by second harmonic generation from wedged indium tin oxide multilayers. Such a system that hosts subwavelength mode footprint and simultaneously long-range radiative coupling offers prospects for long-distance optical communication, large-scale photonic circuits, and hybrid quantum photonic systems.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64504-w

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