Topological phase singularities in atomically thin high-refractive-index materials

TL;DR

This paper explores topological phase singularities in atomically thin high-refractive-index materials, demonstrating their potential for phase engineering and sensing applications through optical design involving 2D materials and resonators.

Contribution

It introduces a method to realize topological phase singularities in reflection using 2D TMDCs combined with Fabry-Perot resonators, enabling advanced flat optics and sensing.

Findings

Topological phase singularities are ubiquitous in atomically thin high-refractive-index materials.

Reflection spectra exhibit rapid phase changes near singularities, acting as perfect absorbers.

Refractive index sensors based on PdSe₂ show superior phase sensitivity.

Abstract

Atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) present a promising platform for numerous photonic applications due to excitonic spectral features, possibility to tune their constants by external gating, doping, or light, and mechanical stability. Utilization of such materials for sensing or optical modulation purposes would require a clever optical design, as by itself the 2D materials can offer only a small optical phase delay - consequence of the atomic thickness. To address this issue, we combine films of 2D semiconductors which exhibit excitonic lines with the Fabry-Perot resonators of the standard commercial SiO$_2$/Si substrate, in order to realize topological phase singularities in reflection. Around these singularities, reflection spectra demonstrate rapid phase changes while the structure behaves as a perfect absorber. Furthermore, we demonstrate that such topological phase singularities are ubiquitous for the entire class of atomically thin TMDCs and other high-refractive-index materials, making it a powerful tool for phase engineering in flat optics. As a practical demonstration, we employ PdSe$_2$ topological phase singularities for a refractive index sensor and demonstrate its superior phase sensitivity compared to typical surface plasmon resonance sensors.