"Graphene nanophotonics: Smaller, stronger, faster"

理解和控制光与物质之间的相互作用是科学和技术的基础-从量子物理学中的纠缠探测到信息技术的光网络。使用传统光学，光只能在长度尺度上控制到光波长，即经典的衍射极限。这一限制具有巨大的影响，为许多现象设定了严格的界限。近年来，等离子体已经成为一种突破这一明显限制的手段。通常在金和银的纳米颗粒中观察到的等离子体共振的关键属性是将光能集中到远低于衍射极限的体积中的能力。这种光聚焦特性带来了许多潜在的应用，从癌症的光热治疗到增强型太阳能电池的光收集。然而，等离子体激元学领域目前正处于十字路口。等离子体激元作为在纳米级操纵光的手段的巨大潜力被与所使用的金属相关的欧姆损耗所阻挡;这些损耗最终限制了光聚焦和能量集中。在这个项目中，我将探索一种激进的替代方案，用新的原子级石墨烯状层状材料取代传统金属。最终目标是克服目前阻碍等离子体的关键限制，从而确定该领域的未来发展方向。三个主要目标是：（1）更小-我将研究等离子体激元能量集中的基本限制。工作将集中在开发和优化平台，在有前途的新的等离子体材料的基础上，石墨烯的原子分层结构。(2)更强的能量集中是在一个沉重的代价，由于高吸收损失，这通常限制了等离子体的寿命到几个短飞秒。最近的结果表明，吸收损失可以通过利用放大增益材料来克服，这将使这些新的等离子体材料中的活性功能成为可能。(3)更快-原子尺度的材料将绕过与吸收相关的问题，并将改变我们在超快时间尺度上操纵光的能力。这具有巨大的影响，具有开关和非线性的潜在应用，两者对光的信息处理至关重要。制定了一项雄心勃勃的计划，通过该计划，在极端亚波长长度尺度上操纵光的愿景将成为可能。这个大规模的项目将释放光子等离子体材料在现实世界中的光子和光电器件的真正潜力。

Understanding and controlling the interaction between light and matter is fundamental to science and technology - from probing entanglement in quantum physics to optical networks for information technology. Using traditional optics, light can only be controlled on length scales down to the wavelength of light, the classical diffraction limit. This limit has huge consequences, setting stringent boundaries for a host of phenomena. In recent years plasmonics has emerged as a means to beat this apparent limit. The key attribute of plasmon resonances, typically observed in nanoparticles of gold and silver, is the ability to concentrate optical energy into volumes well below the diffraction limit. This light focussing property gives rise to many potential applications, from photo thermal treatment of cancer to light harvesting in enhanced solar cells.However, the field of plasmonics currently stands at a cross-road. The enormous potential of plasmonics as a means to manipulate light at the nanoscale is blocked by ohmic losses associated with the metals used; these losses ultimately set limits on light focussing and energy concentration. In this project I will explore a radical alternative by replacing conventional metals with new atomic scale, graphene-like layered materials. The ultimate goal is to overcome the critical limitations which currently hold plasmonics back, and thereby define future directions in the field. The three broad aims are:(1) Smaller - I will study the fundamental limits of energy concentration in plasmonics. Efforts will concentrate on developing and optimising platforms in promising new plasmonic materials based on the atomically layered structure of graphene.(2) Stronger - Energy concentration comes at a heavy price due to high absorption losses, which normally limits the plasmon lifetime to a few short femtoseconds. Recent results suggest absorption losses can be overcome by utilizing amplifying gain materials, which will enable active functionalities in these new plasmonic materials.(3) Faster - Atomic scale materials will bypass the problems associated with absorption, and will transform our ability to manipulate light on ultrafast timescales. This has enormous consequences, with potential applications for switching and nonlinearity, both vital for information processing with light. An ambitious plan is laid out, through which the vision of manipulating light on extreme sub-wavelength length scales will be made possible. This grand-scale project will unlock the true potential of ultrathin plasmonic materials for real-world photonic and optoelectronic devices.