Advancements in Controlling Ghost Phonon Polaritons for Nanophotonic Applications

Recent research has made significant strides in the field of nanophotonics with the development of long-propagating ghost phonon polaritons (g-HPs). This study, titled "Long-Propagating Ghost Phonon Polaritons Enabled by Selective Mode Excitation," was authored by Manuka P. Suriyage, Qingyi Zhou, Hao Qin, Xueqian Sun, Zhuoyuan Lu, Stefan A. Maier, and Zongfu Yu. The findings indicate that by modifying the shape of launching micro/nano antennas, researchers can achieve precise control over the directionality and selective excitation of g-HPs.

Utilizing an asymmetric triangular gold antenna on a calcite crystal surface, the team successfully demonstrated highly directional g-HP excitation by targeting specific polariton modes. The study highlights that the mode of g-HPs can be adjusted through changes in excitation wavelength or antenna rotation. Notably, the near-field imaging experiments revealed g-HP propagation distances exceeding 35 micrometers, which is more than double the previously reported lengths.

This advancement merges theoretical insights with structural engineering, enhancing the control over g-HPs. The implications of this research are particularly relevant for mid-infrared optoelectronics, suggesting potential applications in on-chip optical communication and quantum information processing. The ability to manipulate these polaritons could lead to more efficient and compact photonic devices, paving the way for future innovations in the field.

For further details, the full paper can be accessed at arXiv:2408.12497.