Perspective: Phonon polaritons for infrared optoelectronics

TL;DR

This paper reviews the potential of phonon polaritons in infrared nanophotonics, highlighting their advantages for developing compact, low-loss infrared light sources, detectors, and modulators in the Reststrahlen region.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive assessment of phonon-polariton based nanophotonics for infrared devices, proposing promising pathways and comparing their practicality to existing technologies.

Findings

Phonon polaritons enable light compression at nanoscales.

Potential for efficient infrared light sources, detectors, and modulators.

Advantages over conventional semiconductor devices in the Reststrahlen region.

Abstract

In recent years there has been significant fundamental research into phonon polaritons, owing to their ability to compress light to extremely small dimensions, low-losses, and ability to support anisotropic propagation. In this perspective, after briefly reviewing the present state of mid-infrared optoelectronics, we will assess the potential of phonon-polariton based nanophotonics for infrared (3-100$\mathrm{\mu}$m) light sources, detectors and modulators. These will operate in the Reststrahlen region where conventional semiconductor light sources become ineffective. Drawing on the results from the past few years, we will sketch some promising paths to create such devices and we will evaluate their practical advantages and disadvantages when compared to other approaches to infrared optoelectronics.