arXiv subjects

Javier Martín-Sánchez

Publications and source records attributed to Javier Martín-Sánchez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

In-plane vector-field imaging of propagating surface phonon polaritons

Polariton interferometry through optical near-field microscopy has become a powerful tool in nanophotonics, enabling direct spatial access to the propagation characteristics of strongly confined, evanescent polariton modes. Scattering-type near-field optical microscopy has matured as the prime tool for such studies, yet mostly the out-of-plane components of the optical near fields are probed, owing to the elongated geometry of the nanotip. Here, we demonstrate a complementary far-field nonlinear microscopy approach which allows to selectively probe in-plane polariton field components. Accessing the full vector field is interesting when studying complex mode patterns such as hyperbolic polaritons or skyrmions, where the in-plane field components are typically only inferred from the out-of-plane component but not measured directly. To this end, we use nonlinear infrared-visible wide-field sum-frequency generation microscopy, where the short visible wavelength of the nonlinear signal provides the high spatial resolution to access evanescent modes in the infrared. The symmetry selection rules of the nonlinear process further enable polarization-selective imaging of both in-plane polariton field components through spatial interferometry. The concept is demonstrated experimentally using surface phonon polaritons at the AlN-air interface launched by a gold antenna. A simple, semi-analytical model reproduces the peculiar propagation patterns. Hyperspectral imaging with a tunable narrowband laser further gives access to the polariton dispersion. The wide-field methodology holds high promise for in-depth and high-throughput studies of infrared nanophotonic structures.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Twistoptics in Planar Heterostructures with an Arbitrary Number of Rotated 3D Thin Layers and 2D Conductive Sheets

Twistoptics has recently emerged as a branch of nano-optics that explores light propagation in stacks of thin anisotropic layers rotated relative to one another. The concept is particularly relevant for polaritons -- hybrid light-matter quasiparticles -- in van der Waals (vdW) materials, where strong in-plane anisotropy and deep subwavelength confinement make the polaritonic dispersion highly sensitive to interlayer twist angles. This sensitivity enables exotic phenomena such as canalization, i.e., diffraction-free propagation, with potential applications ranging from thermal management to super-resolution imaging. Despite rapid progress, a general analytical framework to describe polariton propagation in twisted planar heterostructures has been missing. Here we present an analytical model for planar stacks comprising an arbitrary number of finite-thickness anisotropic (biaxial) layers and infinitesimally thin anisotropic conductive sheets. The formalism and its high-momentum and thin-film approximations predict key polaritonic observables, such as wavelength, propagation length, and electromagnetic field distributions. We also provide open-access numerical scripts implementing the model to support their practical use. Together, these results provide a general theoretical foundation for twistoptics and should facilitate the discovery and accelerate the implementation of twist-engineered polaritonic phenomena across the electromagnetic spectrum.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

A complete fs-laser-ablation route to miniaturized single-crystal PMN-PT piezoelectric actuators

This article presents a novel fabrication route for miniaturized piezoelectric actuators that relies exclusively on processes based on femtosecond (fs) laser ablation. Previous work has already demonstrated that fs-lasers are uniquely suited for the fabrication of piezoelectric actuators based on PMN-PT, which are required for multiaxial strain-tuning of quantum dots (QDs) to enable, e.g. the generation of highly entangled photon pairs. Building on these foundations, the present work advances actuator performance and capabilities by introducing a local thinning strategy. This approach allows the realization of smaller devices, which in turn enables lower operating voltages, while simultaneously offering the possibility of integrating multiple quantum light sources on a single chip. The article provides a detailed description of the full fabrication chain, entirely based on fs-laser processing steps, from substrate thinning to metal layer structuring and final device definition. A particular focus is placed on the final cutting process, where the implementation of a third-harmonic ultraviolet (UV) fs-laser wavelength significantly improves edge quality and shape definition compared to the second harmonic (SH) wavelength used in previous work. The device fabricated through the combination of local thinning and UV-based cutting promises not only to enhance the efficiency of strain transfer but also to ensure the mechanical stability required for practical applications. These results establish fs-laser-based fabrication as a versatile and scalable method for next-generation piezoelectric actuators, paving the way for advanced strain-engineering approaches in semiconductor quantum optics and integrated quantum photonics.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2025

Directional strong coupling at the nanoscale between hyperbolic polaritons and organic molecules

Strong coupling (SC) is a fundamental concept in physics that describes extreme interactions between light and matter. Recent experiments have demonstrated SC at the nanometer scale, where strongly confined polaritons, rather than photons, couple to quantum emitters or molecular vibrations. Coupling with the latter is generally referred to as vibrational SC (VSC) and is of significant fundamental and technological interest, as it can be an effective tool for modifying molecular properties. However, the implementation of VSC, especially at the nanoscale, depends on the development of tuning mechanisms that allow control over the coupling strength and, eventually, its directionality, opening the door for the selective coupling of specific molecular vibrations. Here we report the observation of directional VSC. Specifically, we show nanoscale images of propagating hyperbolic phonon polaritons (PhPs) coupled to pentacene molecules revealing that the fingerprint of VSC for propagating polaritons -- a marked anti-crossing in their dispersion at the vibrational resonance -- can be modulated as a function of the direction of propagation. In addition, we show that VSC can exhibit an optimal condition for thin molecular layers, characterized by a maximum coupling strength along one single direction. This phenomenon is understood by analysing the overlap of the polariton field with molecular layers of varying thicknesses. Apart from their fundamental importance, our findings promise novel applications for directional sensing or local directional control of chemical properties at the nanoscale.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Ordered InAs QDs using prepatterned substrates by monolithically integrated porous alumina

In this work, we explore a method for obtaining site-controlled InAs quantum dots (QDs) on large areas of GaAs (0 0 1) pre-patterned surface. The patterning of the substrate is obtained by using a monolithically integrated nano-channel alumina (NCA) mask and transferring its self-ordering to the underlying GaAs substrate by continuing the anodization process once the GaAs surface is reached. After patterning, the GaAs substrate follows a low temperature process for surface preparation before epitaxial growth for QD formation. As a final result, we observe that the nanoholes act as preferential nucleation sites for InAs QD formation, with a filling factor close to unity, while the QD formation on the surface region between the pattern holes is completely suppressed.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2025

Broad Spectral Tuning of Ultra-Low Loss Polaritons in a van der Waals Crystal by Intercalation

Phonon polaritons (PhPs) -- light coupled to lattice vibrations -- in polar van der Waals (vdW) crystals are promising candidates for controlling the flow of energy at the nanoscale due to their strong field confinement, anisotropic propagation, and ultra-long lifetime in the picosecond range \cite{ref1,ref2,ref3,ref4,ref5}. However, the lack of tunability in their narrow and material-specific spectral range -- the Reststrahlen Band (RB) -- severely limits their technological implementation. Here, we demonstrate that the intercalation of Na atoms in the vdW semiconductor $α$-V$_2$O$_5$ enables a broad spectral shift of RBs, and that the PhPs excited exhibit ultra-low losses (lifetime of $4 \pm 1$~ps), similar to PhPs in the non-intercalated crystal (lifetime of $6 \pm 1$ ps). We expect our intercalation method to be applicable to other vdW crystals, opening the door for the use of PhPs in broad spectral bands in the mid-infrared domain.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Reversible Control of In-plane Elastic Stress Tensor in Nanomembranes

Strain engineering allows the physical properties of materials and devices to be widely tailored, as paradigmatically demonstrated by strained transistors and semiconductor lasers employed in consumer electronics. For this reason, its potential impact on our society has been compared to that of chemical alloying. Although significant progress has been made in the last years on strained nanomaterials, strain fields (which are of tensorial nature, with six independent components) are still mostly used in a "scalar" and/or static fashion. Here we present a new class of strain actuators which allow the three components of the in-plane stress tensor in a nanomembrane to be independently and reversibly controlled. The actuators are based on monolithic piezoelectric substrates, which are micro-machined via femtosecond-laser processing. Their functionality is demonstrated by "programming" arbitrary stress states in a semiconductor layer, whose light emission is used as a local and sensitive strain gauge. The results shown in this work open a new route to investigate and make use of strain effects in materials and devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Strain-induced dynamic control over the population of quantum emitters in two-dimensional materials

The discovery of quantum emitters (QEs) in two-dimensional materials (2D) has triggered a surge of research to assess their suitability for quantum photonics. While their microscopic origin is still the subject of intense studies, position-controlled QEs are routinely fabricated using static strain gradients, which are used to drive excitons towards localized regions of the crystal where quantum light emission takes place. However, the use of strain in a dynamic fashion to control the brightness of single-photon sources in 2D materials has not been explored so far. In this work, we address this challenge by introducing a novel hybrid semiconductorpiezoelectric device in which WSe2 monolayers are integrated onto piezoelectric pillars that provide both static and dynamic strains. The static strains are first used to induce the formation of QEs, whose emission shows photon anti-bunching. Their energy and brightness are then controlled via the application of voltages to the piezoelectric pillars. Numerical simulations combined with drift-diffusion equations show that these effects are due to a strain-induced modification of the confining-potential landscape, which in turn leads to a net redistribution of excitons among the different QEs. Our work provides a method to dynamically control the brightness of single photon sources based on 2D materials.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Unveiling the Mechanism of Phonon-Polariton Damping in α-MoO_3

Phonon polaritons (PhPs) (light coupled to lattice vibrations) in the highly anisotropic polar layered material molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO_3) are currently the focus of intense research efforts due to their extreme subwavelength field confinement, directional propagation and unprecedented low losses. Nevertheless, prior research has primarily concentrated on exploiting the squeezing and steering capabilities of α-MoO_3 PhPs, without inquiring much into the dominant microscopic mechanism that determines their long lifetimes, key for their implementation in nanophotonic applications. This study delves into the fundamental processes that govern PhP damping in α-MoO_3 by combining ab initio calculations with scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements across a broad temperature range (from 8 to 300 K). The remarkable agreement between our theoretical predictions and experimental observations allows us to identify third-order anharmonic phonon-phonon scattering as the main damping mechanism of α-MoO_3 PhPs. These findings shed light on the fundamental limits of low-loss PhPs, a crucial factor for assessing their implementation into nanophotonic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

Focusing of in-plane hyperbolic polaritons in van der Waals crystals with tailored infrared nanoantennas

Phonon polaritons (PhPs),light coupled to lattice vibrations,with in-plane hyperbolic dispersion exhibit ray-like propagation with large wavevectors and enhanced density of optical states along certain directions on a surface. As such, they have raised a surge of interest as they promise unprecedented possibilities for the manipulation of infrared light with planar circuitry and at the nanoscale. Here, we demonstrate, for the first time, the focusing of in-plane hyperbolic PhPs propagating along thin slabs of MoO3. To that end, we developed metallic nanoantennas of convex geometries for both the efficient launching and focusing of the polaritons. Remarkably, the foci obtained exhibit enhanced near-field confinement and absorption compared to foci produced by in-plane isotropic PhPs. More intriguingly, foci sizes as small as lamdap/5 =lamda0/50 were achieved (lamdap is the polariton wavelength and lamda0 the photon wavelength). Focusing of in-plane hyperbolic polaritons introduces a first and most basic building block developing planar polariton optics utilizing in-plane anisotropic van der Waals materials and metasurfaces.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Enabling propagation of anisotropic polaritons along forbidden directions via a topological transition

Recent discoveries of polaritons in van der Waals (vdW) crystals with directional in-plane propagation, ultra-low losses, and broad spectral tunability have opened the door for unprecedented manipulation of the flow of light at the nanoscale. However, despite their extraordinary potential for nano-optics, these unique polaritons also present an important limitation: their directional propagation is intrinsically determined by the crystal structure of the host material, which imposes forbidden directions of propagation and hinders its control. Here, we theoretically predict and experimentally demonstrate that directional polaritons (in-plane hyperbolic phonon polaritons) in a vdW biaxial slab (alpha-phase molybdenum trioxide) can be steered along previously forbidden directions by inducing an optical topological transition, which naturally emerges when placing the slab on a substrate with a given negative permittivity (4H-SiC). Importantly, due to the low-loss nature of this topological transition, we are able to visualize in real space exotic intermediate polaritonic states between mutually orthogonal hyperbolic regimes, which permit to unveil the unique topological origin of the transition. This work provides new insights into the emergence of low-loss optical topological transitions in vdW crystals, offering a novel route to efficiently steer the flow of energy at the nanoscale.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2020

Experimental demonstration of the suppression of optical phonon splitting in 2D materials by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is one of the most extended experimental techniques to investigate thin-layered 2D materials. For a complete understanding and modeling of the Raman spectrum of a novel 2D material, it is often necessary to combine the experimental investigation to density-functional-theory calculations. We provide the experimental proof of the fundamentally different behavior of polar 2D vs 3D systems regarding the effect of the dipole-dipole interactions, which in 2D systems ultimately lead to the absence of optical phonons splitting, otherwise present in 3D materials. We demonstrate that non-analytical corrections (NACs) should not be applied to properly model the Raman spectra of few-layered 2D materials, such as WSe$_{2}$ and h-BN, corroborating recent theoretical predictions [Nano Lett. 2017, 17 (6), 3758-3763]. Our findings are supported by measurements performed on tilted samples that allow increasing the component of photon momenta in the plane of the flake, thus unambiguously setting the direction of an eventual NAC. We also investigate the influence of the parity of the number of layers and of the type of layer-by-layer stacking on the effect of NACs on the Raman spectra.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Infrared permittivity of the biaxial van der Waals semiconductor $α$-MoO$_3$ from near- and far-field correlative studies

The biaxial van der Waals semiconductor $α$-phase molybdenum trioxide ($α$-MoO$_3$) has recently received significant attention due to its ability to support highly anisotropic phonon polaritons (PhPs) -infrared (IR) light coupled to lattice vibrations in polar materials-, offering an unprecedented platform for controlling the flow of energy at the nanoscale. However, to fully exploit the extraordinary IR response of this material, an accurate dielectric function is required. Here, we report the accurate IR dielectric function of $α$-MoO$_3$ by modelling far-field, polarized IR reflectance spectra acquired on a single thick flake of this material. Unique to our work, the far-field model is refined by contrasting the experimental dispersion and damping of PhPs, revealed by polariton interferometry using scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) on thin flakes of $α$-MoO$_3$, with analytical and transfer-matrix calculations, as well as full-wave simulations. Through these correlative efforts, exceptional quantitative agreement is attained to both far- and near-field properties for multiple flakes, thus providing strong verification of the accuracy of our model, while offering a novel approach to extracting dielectric functions of nanomaterials, usually too small or inhomogeneous for establishing accurate models only from standard far-field methods. In addition, by employing density functional theory (DFT), we provide insights into the various vibrational states dictating our dielectric function model and the intriguing optical properties of $α$-MoO$_3$.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2020

Opto-Mechanical Tuning of the Polarization Properties of Micropillar Cavity Systems with embedded Quantum Dots

Strain tuning emerged as an appealing tool to tune fundamental optical properties of solid state quantum emitters. In particular, the wavelength and fine structure of quantum dot states could be tuned using hybrid semiconductor-piezoelectric devices. Here, we show how an applied external stress can directly impact the polarization properties of coupled InAs quantum dot-micropillar cavity systems. In our experiment, we find that we can reversibly tune the anisotropic polarization splitting of the fundamental microcavity mode by approximately 60 $μ\text{eV}$. We discuss the origin of this tuning mechanism, which arises from an interplay between elastic deformation and the photoelastic effect in our micropillar. Finally, we exploit this effect to tune the quantum dot polarization opto-mechanically via the polarization-anisotropic Purcell effect. Our work paves the way for optomechanical and reversible tuning of the polarization and spin properties of light-matter coupled solid state systems.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

New insights in the lattice dynamics of monolayers, bilayers, and trilayers of WSe2 and unambiguous determination of few-layer-flakes' thickness

Among the most common few-layers transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), WSe2 is the most challenging material from the lattice dynamics point of view. Indeed, for a long time the main two phonon modes (A1g and E12g) have been wrongly assigned. In the last few years, these two modes have been properly interpreted, and their quasi-degeneracy in the monolayer has been used for its identification. In this work, we show that this approach has a limited validity and we propose an alternative, more general approach, based on multi-phonon bands. Moreover, we show and interpret all the peaks (about 40) appearing in the Raman spectra of monolayers, bilayers, and trilayers of WSe2 by combining experimental wavelength- and polarization-dependent Raman studies with density-functional theory calculations providing the phonon dispersions, the polarization-resolved first-order Raman spectra, and the one- and two-phonon density of states. This complete study not only offers a method to distinguish between monolayers, bilayers, and trilayers with no need of optical images and atomic force microscopy, but it also sheds light on the interpretation of single and multi-phonon bands appearing in the inelastic light scattering experiments of layered WSe2; some of these bands were never observed before, and some were observed and uncertainly assigned. We promote the full understanding of the lattice dynamics of this material that is crucial for the realization of optoelectronics devices and of novel phononic metamaterials, such as TMDs superlattices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Strain-tunable Single Photon Sources in WSe2 Monolayers

The appearance of single photon sources in atomically thin semiconductors holds great promises for the development of a flexible and ultra-compact quantum technology, in which elastic strain engineering can be used to tailor their emission properties. Here, we show a compact and hybrid 2D-semiconductor-piezoelectric device that allows for controlling the energy of single photons emitted by quantum emitters localized in wrinkled WSe2 monolayers. We demonstrate that strain fields exerted by the piezoelectric device can be used to tune the energy of localized excitons in WSe2 up to 18 meV in a reversible manner, while leaving the single photon purity unaffected over a wide range. Interestingly, we find that the magnitude and in particular the sign of the energy shift as a function of stress is emitter dependent. With the help of finite element simulations we suggest a simple model that explains our experimental observations and, furthermore, discloses that the type of strain (tensile or compressive) experienced by the quantum emitters strongly depends on their localization across the wrinkles. Our findings are of strong relevance for the practical implementation of single photon devices based on two-dimensional materials as well as for understanding the effects of strain on their emission properties.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2019

A frequency-tunable nanomembrane mechanical oscillator with embedded quantum dots

Hybrid systems consisting of a quantum emitter coupled to a mechanical oscillator are receiving increasing attention for fundamental science and potential applications in quantum technologies. In contrast to most of the presented works, in which the oscillator eigenfrequencies are irreversibly determined by the fabrication process, we present here a simple approach to obtain frequency-tunable mechanical resonators based on suspended nanomembranes. The method relies on a micromachined piezoelectric actuator, which we use both to drive resonant oscillations of a suspended Ga(Al)As membrane with embedded quantum dots and to fine tune their mechanical eigenfrequencies. Specifically, we excite oscillations with frequencies of at least 60 MHz by applying an AC voltage to the actuator and tune the eigenfrequencies by at least 25 times their linewidth by continuously varying the elastic stress state in the membranes through a DC voltage. The light emitted by optically excited quantum dots is used as sensitive local strain gauge to monitor the oscillation frequency and amplitude. We expect that our method has the potential to be applicable to other optomechanical systems based on dielectric and semiconductor membranes possibly operating in the quantum regime.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

Micromachining of PMN-PT Crystals with Ultrashort Laser Pulses

Lead-magnesium niobate lead-titanate (PMN-PT) has been proven as an excellent material for sensing and actuating applications. The fabrication of advanced ultra-small PMN-PT-based devices relies on the availability of sophisticated procedures for the micro-machining of PMN-PT thin films or bulk substrates. Approaches reported up to date include chemical etching, excimer laser ablation and ion milling. To ensure an excellent device performance, a key mandatory feature for a micro-machining process is to preserve as far as possible the crystalline quality of the substrates; in other words, the fabrication method must induce a low density of cracks and other kind of defects. In this work, we demonstrate a relatively fast procedure for the fabrication of high-quality PMN-PT micro-machined actuators employing green femtosecond laser pulses. The fabricated devices feature absence of extended cracks and well defined edges with relatively low roughness, which is advantageous for the further integration of nanomaterials onto the piezoelectric actuators.

physics.app-ph↗