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Title: Coupled Dirac Plasmons in Topological Insulators

Abstract

Abstract Topological insulators are predicted to house spin‐polarized 2D Dirac plasmons. In topological insulator thin films, Dirac plasmons on the top and bottom surfaces are coupled, giving rise to an unusual dispersion relationship. These plasmons are of interest both for fundamental science as well as applications in terahertz sensing and waveguiding. In this article, conclusive evidence is presented for coupled Dirac plasmons excited in the surface states of topological insulator thin film stripe arrays by investigating how the plasmon frequency depends on both film thickness and stripe width. Bi 2 Se 3 films of thickness 50–200 nm are patterned into periodic stripes of width 1–4 µm to excite plasmons. The plasmon frequency dependence on both film thickness and stripe width is found to be in good agreement with theoretical models for coupling 2D Dirac plasmons. Alternative explanations such as 2D massive plasmons are shown to be inconsistent with data. Finally, effective mode indexes of up to 211 are reported, demonstrating incredible confinement of light in the terahertz frequency range.

Authors:
 [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Delaware, Newark, DE (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1593358
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1433553
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0017801; DE‐SC0017801
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Advanced Optical Materials
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 6; Journal Issue: 13; Journal ID: ISSN 2195-1071
Publisher:
Wiley
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Ginley, Theresa P., and Law, Stephanie. Coupled Dirac Plasmons in Topological Insulators. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1002/adom.201800113.
Ginley, Theresa P., & Law, Stephanie. Coupled Dirac Plasmons in Topological Insulators. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201800113
Ginley, Theresa P., and Law, Stephanie. Wed . "Coupled Dirac Plasmons in Topological Insulators". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201800113. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1593358.
@article{osti_1593358,
title = {Coupled Dirac Plasmons in Topological Insulators},
author = {Ginley, Theresa P. and Law, Stephanie},
abstractNote = {Abstract Topological insulators are predicted to house spin‐polarized 2D Dirac plasmons. In topological insulator thin films, Dirac plasmons on the top and bottom surfaces are coupled, giving rise to an unusual dispersion relationship. These plasmons are of interest both for fundamental science as well as applications in terahertz sensing and waveguiding. In this article, conclusive evidence is presented for coupled Dirac plasmons excited in the surface states of topological insulator thin film stripe arrays by investigating how the plasmon frequency depends on both film thickness and stripe width. Bi 2 Se 3 films of thickness 50–200 nm are patterned into periodic stripes of width 1–4 µm to excite plasmons. The plasmon frequency dependence on both film thickness and stripe width is found to be in good agreement with theoretical models for coupling 2D Dirac plasmons. Alternative explanations such as 2D massive plasmons are shown to be inconsistent with data. Finally, effective mode indexes of up to 211 are reported, demonstrating incredible confinement of light in the terahertz frequency range.},
doi = {10.1002/adom.201800113},
journal = {Advanced Optical Materials},
number = 13,
volume = 6,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Wed Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}

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