Quantum Nonlinear Optics in Atomically Thin Materials

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how placing atomically thin materials near a mirror can significantly enhance their quantum nonlinear optical response, enabling practical free-space quantum optics experiments without complex nanostructures.

Contribution

It introduces a novel free-space optical scheme to boost nonlinear responses in atomically thin materials using polariton resonances near a mirror, avoiding cavities.

Findings

Enhanced nonlinear response via mirror-induced polariton resonances

Feasibility of free-space quantum nonlinear optics with 2D semiconductors

Analysis of imperfections and loss effects

Abstract

We show that a nonlinear optical response associated with a resonant, atomically thin material can be dramatically enhanced by placing it in front of a partially reflecting mirror, rendering otherwise weakly nonlinear systems suitable for experiments and applications involving quantum nonlinear optics. Our approach exploits the nonlinear response of long-lived polariton resonances that arise at particular distances between the material and the mirror. The scheme is entirely based on free-space optics, eliminating the need for cavities or complex nanophotonic structures. We analyze a specific implementation based on exciton-polariton resonances in two-dimensional semiconductors and discuss the role of imperfections and loss.