Efficient plasmonic emission by the quantum Čerenkov effect from hot carriers in graphene

Ido Kaminer (), Yaniv Tenenbaum Katan, Hrvoje Buljan, Yichen Shen, Ognjen Ilic, Josué J. López, Liang Jie Wong, John D. Joannopoulos and Marin Soljačić
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Ido Kaminer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Yaniv Tenenbaum Katan: Physics Department and Solid State Institute
Hrvoje Buljan: University of Zagreb
Yichen Shen: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ognjen Ilic: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Josué J. López: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Liang Jie Wong: Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology
John D. Joannopoulos: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Marin Soljačić: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Graphene plasmons have been found to be an exciting plasmonic platform, thanks to their high field confinement and low phase velocity, motivating contemporary research to revisit established concepts in light–matter interaction. In a conceptual breakthrough over 80 years old, Čerenkov showed how charged particles emit shockwaves of light when moving faster than the phase velocity of light in a medium. To modern eyes, the Čerenkov effect offers a direct and ultrafast energy conversion scheme from charge particles to photons. The requirement for relativistic particles, however, makes Čerenkov emission inaccessible to most nanoscale electronic and photonic devices. Here we show that graphene plasmons provide the means to overcome this limitation through their low phase velocity and high field confinement. The interaction between the charge carriers flowing inside graphene and the plasmons enables a highly efficient two-dimensional Čerenkov emission, giving a versatile, tunable and ultrafast conversion mechanism from electrical signal to plasmonic excitation.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11880

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