arXiv subjects

Michele Merano

Publications and source records attributed to Michele Merano.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Reflection, transmission and surface susceptibility tensor in two-dimensional materials

In a recent experiment, the out-of-plane surface susceptibility of a single-layer two-dimensional atom crystal in the visible spectrum has been measured. This susceptibility gives a measurable contribution to the reflectivity of two-dimensional materials. Here we provide a complete theoretical description of the reflective properties, considering incoming s and p polarized plane waves at any angle of incidence on the crystal, computing local, reflected and transmitted electromagnetic fields. We finally connect the microscopic polarizability to both the in-plane and the out-of-plane macroscopic surface susceptibilities.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2018

Optical response of a bilayer crystal

We extend the recently developed classical theory for the optical response of a single-layer crystal to bilayers. We account for the interaction between the two atomic planes and the multiple reflections inside the crystals. We show how to define a global susceptibility meaningful for the bilayer crystal and how its expression varies compared to the single-layer case. We compute both the local and the macroscopic fields which allow us for a direct comparison with experimental data.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2018

Radiation-reaction electromagnetic fields in metasurfaces, a complete description of their optical properties

This paper derives the macroscopic electric and magnetic fields and the surface susceptibilities for a metasurface, starting from the microscopic scatterer distribution. It is assumed that these scatterers behave as electric and magnetic dipoles under the influence of the incident radiation. Interestingly not only the retarded electromagnetic fields from oscillating dipoles are relevant to pass from the microscopic to the macroscopic representation, but the advanced fields must be considered too. It is found that the macroscopic fields are the sum of the incident fields plus the radiation-reaction fields acting on a single scatterer. Both the local fields and the radiation-reaction fields are necessary to fix the electric and magnetic surface susceptibilities.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2017

Measurement of the surface susceptibility and the surface conductivity of atomically thin $\rm MoS_2$ by spectroscopic ellipsometry

We show how to correctly extract from the ellipsometric data the surface susceptibility and the surface conductivity that describe the optical properties of monolayer $\rm MoS_2$. Theoretically, these parameters stem from modelling a single-layer two-dimensional crystal as a surface current, a truly two-dimensional model. Currently experimental practice is to consider this model equivalent to a homogeneous slab with an effective thickness given by the interlayer spacing of the exfoliating bulk material. We prove that the error in the evaluation of the surface susceptibility of monolayer $\rm MoS_2$, owing to the use of the slab model, is at least 10% or greater, a significant discrepancy in the determination of the optical properties of this material.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

Optical beam shifts in graphene and single-layer boron-nitride

Optical beam shifts from a free-standing two-dimensional atomic crystal are investigated. In contrast to a three-dimensional crystal the magnitude of the Goos-H$\rm \ddot{a}$nchen shift depends on the surface susceptibility of the crystal and not on the wavelength of the incident light beam. The surface conductivity of the atomically thin crystal is less important in this context because it enters in the expression of the shifts only as a second order parameter. In analogy to a three-dimensional crystal the magnitudes of the Imbert-Fedorov shift and of the angular shifts depend respectively on the wavelength and on the square of the beam angular aperture.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

Role of the radiation-reaction electric field in the optical response of two-dimensional crystals

A classical theory of a radiating two-dimensional crystal is proposed and an expression for the radiative-reaction electric field is derived. This field plays an essential role in connecting the microscopic electromagnetic fields acting on each dipole of the crystal to the macroscopic one, via the boundary conditions for the system. The expression of the radiative-reaction electric field coincides with the macroscopic electric field radiating from the crystal and, summed to the incident electric field, generates the total macroscopic electric field.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Transverse electric surface mode in atomically thin Boron-Nitride

The spatial confinement and the propagation length of surface waves in a single-layer two-dimensional atomic crystal are analysed in term of its surface susceptibility and its surface conductivity. Based on the values of these macroscopic parameters, extracted from experimental observations, it is confirmed that graphene supports a transverse magnetic non-radiating surface mode in the ultraviolet spectral region while a single-layer hexagonal Boron-Nitride is predicted to support a transverse electric non-radiating surface mode in the visible spectrum. This last mode, at a vacuum wavelength of 633 nm, has a spatial confinement of 15 microns and an intensity-propagation distance greater than 2 cm.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

Clausius-Mossotti Lorentz-Lorenz relations and retardation effects for two-dimensional crystals

The macroscopic surface electric susceptibility determines the linear optical properties of an insulating single-layer two-dimensional atomic crystal, and can be expressed in terms of the microscopic polarizability of the atoms. We compute the local electric field acting on a single atom, both for the static and the dynamic case, as the superposition of the external applied electric field and the fields generated by the induced dipoles in the crystal. We find that, in the dynamic case, retardation effects dephase the local electric field with respect to the incident one. This explains why the Fresnel coefficients of a single-layer two-dimensional atomic crystal are intrinsically complex quantities, even when a null macroscopic surface conductivity is assumed.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Nonlinear optical response of a two-dimensional atomic crystal

The theory of Bloembergen and Pershan for the light waves at the boundary of nonlinear media is extended to a nonlinear two-dimensional atomic crystal, i.e. a single planar atomic lattice, placed in between linear bulk media. The crystal is treated as a zero-thickness interface, a real two-dimensional system. Harmonic waves emanate from it. Generalization of the laws of reflection and refraction give the direction and the intensity of the harmonic waves. As a particular case that contains all the essential physical features, second order harmonic generation is considered. The theory, due to its simplicity that stems from the special character of a single planar atomic lattice, is able to elucidate and to explain the rich experimental details of harmonic generation from a two-dimensional atomic crystal.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

The wave impedance of an atomically thin crystal

I propose an expression for the electromagnetic wave impedance of a two-dimensional atomic crystal, and I deduce the Fresnel coefficients in terms of this quantity. It is widely known that a two-dimensional crystal can absorb light, if its conductivity is different from zero. It is less emphasized that they can also store a certain amount of electromagnetic energy. The concept of impedance is useful to quantify this point.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Fresnel coefficients of a two-dimensional atomic crystal

In general the experiments on the linear optical properties of a single-layer two-dimensional atomic crystal are interpreted by modeling it as a homogeneous slab with an effective thickness. Here I fit the most remarkable experiments in graphene optics by using the Fresnel coefficients, fixing both the surface susceptibility and the surface conductivity of graphene. It is shown that the Fresnel coefficients and the slab model are not equivalent. Experiments indicate that the Fresnel coefficients are able to simulate the overall experiments here analyzed, while the slab model fails to predict absorption and the phase of the reflected light.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Observation of nonspecular effects for Gaussian Schell-model light beams

We investigate experimentally the role of spatial coherence on optical beam shifts. This topic has been the subject of recent theoretical debate. We consider Gaussian Schell-model beams, with different spatial degrees of coherence, reflected at an air-glass interface. We prove that the angular Goos-H\"anchen and the angular Imbert-Fedorov effects are affected by the spatial degree of coherence of the incident beam, whereas the spatial Goos-H\"anchen effect does not depend on incoherence. Our data unambiguously resolve the theoretical debate in favour of one specific theory.

physics.optics↗