Erin Sheridan

Research

Co-authors: Lu Chen, Qing Guo, Jianan Li, Hyungwoo Lee, Jung-Woo Lee, Chang-Beom Eom, Patrick Irvin, Jeremy Levy

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
Pittsburgh Quantum Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260 USA
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison,
WI 53706, USA

Acknowledgements: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. 1747452. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

9/2019

Abstract: Investigating the Optical Response of Nanomaterials using LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Nanoscale Junctions

We investigate and utilize the broadband nonlinear generation and detection capabilities of nanoscale junctions created at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) interface using conductive AFM lithography. Using the large third-order nonlinear susceptibility in SrTiO3, strong difference frequency mixing occurs when the junction is biased, leading to induced nonlinear polarization that can also be detected at the junction. We have worked to characterize the response of these devices, and characterized an ultra-broadband >100 THz bandwidth of the nonlinear response. Using LAO/STO nanojunctions, we investigate the optical responses of nanomaterials such as graphene, graphene nanoribbons, and semiconducting quantum dots under ultrafast illumination. Recent results on graphene/LAO/STO nanojunctions showed an induced ~100% narrow-band absorption in graphene in the VIS-NIR range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and a corresponding strong enhancement of graphene’s nonlinear optical response.

Dissertation

Degree

MS
PhD

Graduate Advisor

Jeremy Levy