Abstract-Strong Coupling of Epsilon-Near-Zero Phonon Polaritons in Polar Dielectric Heterostructures

Nikolai Christian Passler, Christopher R. Gubbin, Thomas Folland, I. Razdolski, D. Scott Katzer, D. F. Storm, Martin Wolf, Simone De Liberato, Joshua D Caldwell, Alexander Paarmann,

https://cdn-pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b01273

We report the first observation of epsilon near zero (ENZ) phonon polaritons in an ultrathin AlN film fully hybridized with surface phonon polaritons (SPhP) supported by the adjacent SiC substrate. Employing a strong coupling model for the analysis of the dispersion and electric field distribution in these hybridized modes, we show that they share the most prominent features of the two precursor modes. The novel ENZ-SPhP coupled polaritons with a highly propagative character and deeply sub-wavelength light confinement can be utilized as building blocks for future infrared and terahertz (THz) nanophotonic integration and communication devices.

Abstract-Sub-nanometer thin oxide film sensing with localized surface phonon polaritons

Gubbin, Virginia D Wheeler, Alexander J. Giles, Vincenzo Giannini, Stefan A. Maier, Simone De Liberato, Joshua D Caldwell

https://pubsdc3.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsphotonics.7b01482


Chemical sensing methods based on surface polaritonic resonances stem from their intense near fields and resultant sensitivity to changes in local refractive index. Polar dielectric crystals (e.g. SiC, hBN) support surface phonon polaritons (SPhPs) from the mid-infrared to terahertz range with mode volumes and quality factors exceeding the best case scenario attained by plasmonic counterparts, making them strong candidates for resonant surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy (SEIRA). We report on the behaviour of SPhP resonances of SiC nanopillars following the incorporation of sub- and nanometric coatings of Al2O3 and ZrO2 obtained by atomic layer deposition. Concurrent anomalous red and blue-shifts of SPhP resonances were observed upon deposition of sub-nanometric Al2O3 films, with shift direction dictated by the mode position relative to the ordinary longitudinal optic (LO) phonon of Al2O3. These concurrent shifts, which are attributed to coupling to the Berreman mode of the Al2O3 layer, persist for thicker films and are correctly predicted by numerical calculations employing the measured Al2O3 permittivity. Deposition of ZrO2, whose phonon resonances are detuned from the SPhPs, also led to anomalous blue-shifts of transverse and longitudinal SPhP resonances around 900 cm-1 for films up to ≈ 1.5 nm, reversing to the canonical red-shift for thicker layers. These anomalous shifts were not reproduced numerically using the measured ZrO2 permittivity and suggest the existence of a localized surface state, which when modelled as a simple Lorentz oscillator, provide semi-quantitative agreement with experimental results. In addition, predicted shifts for thicker ZrO2layers may thus provide a tool for real-time monitoring of ultrathin film growth.