Fundamentals of nano-optics in hyperbolic van der Waals materials

PhD Program

Speaker

Gonzalo Álvarez Pérez
DIPC

When

2024/01/24

Place

Oviedo (Spain)

Add to calendar

iCal

PhD Thesis defense by Gonzalo Álvarez Pérez

Supervisors: Pablo Alonso González, Alexey Nikitin (DIPC, Ikerbasque)

Nano-optics, Nano-photonics and Nano-plasmonics

Building on the study of hyperbolic polaritons as a pivotal concept, this thesis investigates the fundamentals of nanolight propagation in van der Waals materials that are strongly anisotropic. The exploration begins by establishing the theoretical and experimental groundwork for the subsequent chapters. It then delves into the visualization of optical phenomena that defy conventional intuition, such as negative reflection and anomalous refraction, relevant beyond the realm of nano-optics, and their applications for the development of nanoscale light-controlling devices, exemplified by a planar cavity and a record-breaking nanolens. Our work also encompasses the emergence of a burgeoning field in nano-optics, twist-optics, which capitalizes on stacking anisotropic van der Waals materials at different angles to achieve precise guiding of light at the nanometer scale. The research culminates in exploring avenues for dynamically tuning the propagation of light at the nanoscale. In sum, this thesis uncovers the fundamentals of nano-optics in strongly anisotropic van der Waals materials, shedding light on unique optical phenomena and their practical applications, which hold potential for unprecedented control of light and the flow of energy at the nanometer scale.