Epsilon-near-zero mode for active optoelectronic devices

Phys Rev Lett. 2012 Dec 7;109(23):237401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.237401. Epub 2012 Dec 4.

Abstract

The electromagnetic modes of a GaAs quantum well between two AlGaAs barriers are studied. At the longitudinal optical phonon frequency, the system supports a phonon polariton mode confined in the thickness of the quantum well that we call epsilon-near-zero mode. This epsilon-near-zero mode can be resonantly excited through a grating resulting in a very large absorption localized in the single quantum well. We show that the reflectivity can be modulated by applying a voltage. This paves the way to a new class of active optoelectronic devices working in the midinfrared and far infrared at ambient temperature.