Engineering strong coupling in ultra-compact photonic crystal/2D material platforms

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Materials Science
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Photonic crystals (PhCs) coupled to 2D materials like transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offer potential for advanced on-chip devices.
• Conventional microcavities have limitations; open PhC cavities present unique field profiles for tailored light-matter interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate how PhC geometry controls exciton-polariton coupling and optical spectra.
• Explore the simultaneous weak and strong coupling regimes in PhC-TMD systems.
• Provide insights for designing ultra-compact, metal-free polaritonic devices.

Main Methods:

• Coupled-mode theory.
• Rigorous solutions to Maxwell's equations.
• Analysis of electric field profiles and exciton coupling.

Main Results:

• PhC geometry dictates spatial coupling regions within the unit cell.
• For large filling factors, PhC polaritons act as brightened dark waveguide modes.
• Spatially patterned TMDs reveal simultaneous weak and strong exciton coupling.

Conclusions:

• PhC geometry is key to controlling exciton-polariton dynamics in structured environments.
• This approach enables the design of highly tunable, room-temperature polaritonic devices.
• Offers a pathway for metal-free, ultra-compact optoelectronic applications.