Physics Program Presents
Controlling Hybrid States of Light and Matter in Atomically-thin Semiconductors
Friday, November 8, 2019
Hegeman 107
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST/GMT-5
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Trevor LaMountain, Northwestern University
Interactions between light and matter underlie a variety of everyday technologies. Typical examples include solar cells, where light is absorbed and converted to electronic energy, and LEDs, where the opposite occurs. By embedding semiconductors in between two mirrors, we can greatly enhance the light-matter interaction, giving rise to much more exotic effects than just absorption or emission. Under certain conditions these systems can form hybrid quantum states known as “polaritons,” which exhibit properties of both light and matter. In a different regime, off-resonant light can cause the electronic energy levels to shift with negligible absorption. Known as the optical Stark effect, this feature provides a way to precisely control the energy levels of semiconductors using only light. In this talk, I will introduce the closely-related physics that describes both polariton formation and the optical Stark effect. I will then discuss some interesting features of both of these phenomena in atomically-thin semiconductors. Finally, I will present resent results that combine both of these regimes by demonstrating the optical Stark shift of exciton-polaritons in atomically-thin semiconductors.For more information, call 845-752-4391, or e-mail [email protected].
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Location: Hegeman 107