Graphene supports the propagation of subwavelength optical solitons

TL;DR

This paper theoretically demonstrates that graphene's high nonlinearity supports subwavelength optical solitons and hybrid modes, enabling self-guided light beams at moderate intensities with potential applications in nanophotonics.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of subwavelength optical solitons in graphene and reveals hybrid surface plasmon-graphene soliton modes, advancing nonlinear nanophotonics.

Findings

Graphene enables formation of subwavelength spatial solitons.

Hybrid surface plasmon-graphene soliton modes are possible.

Self-guided beams can form at moderate intensities.

Abstract

We study theoretically nonlinear propagation of light in a graphene monolayer. We show that the large intrinsic nonlinearity of graphene at optical frequencies enables the formation of quasi one-dimensional self-guided beams (spatial solitons) featuring subwavelength widths at moderate electric-field peak intensities. We also demonstrate a novel class of nonlinear self-confined modes resulting from the hybridization of surface plasmon polaritons with graphene optical solitons.