Van der Waals polaritons: From fundamental probes to applications

Abstract: Quantum materials host exotic states of matter with unique macroscopic phenomena, ranging from various correlated electron states to topological orders. The ability to manipulate and probe their emergent behavior with nanoscale precision is at the forefront of condensed matter research and underlies the future progress of new electronic and photonic technologies. Polaritonic platforms utilizing hybrid light-matter excitations with extreme light confinement enable a unique form of experimental inquiry into the electronic phenomena in quantum materials at the nanoscale. In this talk, I will discuss a robust strategy to design new polaritonic platforms based on atomically thin van der Waals (vdW) materials using the notion of oxidation-activated charge transfer. Taking graphene as a model vdW system, I will describe applications of this strategy in implementing low-loss nanostructured optical elements and in utilizing plasmon polaritons as a fundamental probe of the electrodynamics in layered oxides.