Resonant photonic crystals based on van der Waals heterostructures

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of 2D monolayers with optical gaps in resonant photonic crystals to create compact delay units capable of significantly slowing down light pulses with minimal intensity loss.

Contribution

It introduces a novel design of one-dimensional resonant photonic crystals using van der Waals heterostructures, demonstrating controllable pulse delay and attenuation.

Findings

Short pulses can be slowed by a few picoseconds.

Pulse intensity decreases only 2-5 times during delay.

Retardation and attenuation are tunable via detuning.

Abstract

We propose to use 2D monolayers possessing optical gaps and high exciton oscillator strength as an element of one-dimensional resonant photonic crystals. We demonstrate that such systems are promising for the creation of effective and compact delay units. In the transition-metal-dichalcogenide-based structures where the frequencies of Bragg and exciton resonances are close, a propagating short pulse can be slowed down by few picoseconds while the pulse intensity decreases only 2 - 5 times. This is realized at the frequency of the "slow" mode situated within the stopband. The pulse retardation and attenuation can be controlled by detuning the Bragg frequency from the exciton resonance frequency.