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Title: Optical Switching in VO2 films by below-gap excitation

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
OSTI ID:928963

We study the photo-induced insulator-metal transition in VO2, correlating threshold and dynamic evolution with excitation wavelength. In high-quality single crystal samples, we find that switching can only be induced with photon energies above the 670-meV gap. This contrasts with the case of polycrystalline films, where formation of the metallic state can also be triggered with photon energies as low as 180 meV, well below the bandgap. Perfection of this process may be conducive to novel schemes for optical switches, limiters and detectors, operating at room temperature in the mid-IR.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Materials Sciences Division
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
928963
Report Number(s):
LBNL-279E; APPLAB; TRN: US200811%%452
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English