Researchers discover a method for exciting phonon-polaritons
Researchers from Yale University, California Institute of Technology, City University of New York, Kansas State University and ETH Zurich have reported a new way of generating long-wave infrared and terahertz waves. The work could pave the way towards cheaper, smaller long-wave infrared light sources and more efficient device cooling.
Phonon-polaritons are a unique type of electromagnetic wave that occurs when light interacts with vibrations in a material’s crystal lattice structure. These phonon-polariton waves exhibit several unique characteristics. For example, they can concentrate the energy of long-wavelength infrared light into extremely small volumes, even down to tens of nanometers, as well as effectively move heat away from the source. This makes phonon-polaritons ideal for high-tech applications like sub-wavelength imaging, molecular sensors, and heat management within electronics. However, research on phonon-polariton waves has thus far mainly focused on fundamental studies in laboratory settings, with practical device applications remaining largely unexplored.
Source: https://www.graphene-info.com/researchers-discover-method-exciting-phonon-polaritons
