Photocurrent imaging of hybrid polaritons in graphene based heterostructures

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel method for imaging hybrid polaritons in graphene heterostructures using photocurrent, enabling three-dimensional detection and advancing all-electrical nano-optical applications.

Contribution

It introduces a photocurrent imaging technique for in-plane plasmons in graphene heterostructures, combining electrical detection with near-field optical signals for 3D visualization.

Findings

Successful 3D detection of hybrid plasmons.

Electrical boundary acts as both junction and reflector.

Advances in all-electrical nano-optical processing.

Abstract

Photocurrent is arising as a powerful tool for detecting in-plane collective excitations in hybrid polariton systems. In this paper, based on the intrinsic optoelectric response of graphene, photocurrent imaging of in-plane plasmons from each graphene layer is presented in a hybrid graphene-graphene heterostructure. In combination with near-field optical signals which detect plasmons above the sample, three dimensional detection of hybrid plasmons is demonstrated. Especially, only an electronic boundary is necessary for the electrical detection of hybrid plasmons, which acts as both the photocurrent junction and plasmon reflector. Our studies would promote electrical studies of polariton related physical phenomena and pave the way towards all-electrical nano-optical processing.