Researchers at the Department of Physics at Chalmers University of Technology have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of photonics. They have successfully combined two major research fields – nonlinear and high-index nanophotonics – into a single disk-like nanoobject.
This unique nanodisk is capable of converting light frequency through its crystal’s non-linearity, making it 10,000 times more efficient than unstructured material of the same kind. The researchers used transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), specifically molybdenum disulfide, to create the nanodisk.
The material has a high refractive index, allowing light to be compressed more effectively within it. Additionally, it can be transferred onto any substrate without matching its atomic lattice with the underlying material.
The nanodisk is also efficient in localizing electromagnetic fields and generating doubled frequency light through second-harmonic generation. This property makes it attractive for potential applications in lasers and quantum technologies.
According to lead author Dr. Georgii Zograf, the researchers’ achievement marks a significant milestone in optics research. The nanodisk’s extremely small size, just 50 nanometers, makes it a game-changer for miniaturizing photonics devices.
The team believes that this discovery will push photonics research forward and potentially enable the development of advanced optical and photonic applications. These could include integrating TMD materials into various kinds of optical circuits or using them in the miniaturization of photonics.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2024-09-unique-nanodisk-photonics.html