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Photonic crystals are commonly implemented in media with periodically varying optical properties. Photonic crystals enable exquisite control of light propagation in integrated optical circuits, and also emulate advanced physical concepts. However, common photonic crystals are unfit for in-operando on/off controls. We overcome this limitation and demonstrate a broadly tunable two-dimensional photonic crystal for surface plasmon polaritons. Our platform consists of a continuous graphene monolayer integrated in a back-gated platform with nano-structured gate insulators. Infrared nano-imaging reveals the formation of a photonic bandgap and strong modulation of the local plasmonic density of states that can be turned on/off or gradually tuned by the applied gate voltage. We also implement an artificial domain wall which supports highly confined one-dimensional plasmonic modes. Our electrostatically-tunable photonic crystals are derived from standard metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor technology and pave a way for practical on-chip light manipulation.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Photonic crystals are commonly implemented in media with periodically varying optical properties. Photonic crystals enable exquisite control of light propagation in integrated optical circuits, and also emulate advanced physical concepts. However, common photonic crystals are unfit for in-operando on/off controls. We overcome this limitation and demonstrate a broadly tunable two-dimensional photonic crystal for surface plasmon polaritons. Our platform consists of a continuous graphene monolayer integrated in a back-gated platform with nano-structured gate insulators. Infrared nano-imaging reveals the formation of a photonic bandgap and strong modulation of the local plasmonic density of states that can be turned on/off or gradually tuned by the applied gate voltage. We also implement an artificial domain wall which supports highly confined one-dimensional plasmonic modes. Our electrostatically-tunable photonic crystals are derived from standard metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor technology and pave a way for practical on-chip light manipulation.

Conventional optical components are limited to size scales much larger than the wavelength of light, as changes to the amplitude, phase and polarization of the electromagnetic fields are accrued gradually along an optical path. However, advances in nanophotonics have produced ultrathin, so-called 'flat' optical components that beget abrupt changes in these properties over distances significantly shorter than the free-space wavelength. Although high optical losses still plague many approaches, phonon polariton (PhP) materials have demonstrated long lifetimes for sub-diffractional modes in comparison to plasmon-polariton-based nanophotonics. We experimentally observe a threefold improvement in polariton lifetime through isotopic enrichment of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Commensurate increases in the polariton propagation length are demonstrated via direct imaging of polaritonic standing waves by means of infrared nano-optics. Our results provide the foundation for a materials-growth-directed approach aimed at realizing the loss control necessary for the development of PhP-based nanophotonic devices.

Conventional optical components are limited to size-scales much larger thanthe wavelength of light, as changes in the amplitude, phase and polarization ofthe electromagnetic fields are accrued gradually along an optical path.However, advances in nanophotonics have produced ultra-thin, co-called "flat"optical components that beget abrupt changes in these properties over distancessignificantly shorter than the free space wavelength. While high optical lossesstill plague many approaches, phonon polariton (PhP) materials havedemonstrated long lifetimes for sub-diffractional modes in comparison toplasmon-polariton-based nanophotonics. We experimentally observe a three-foldimprovement in polariton lifetime through isotopic enrichment of hexagonalboron nitride (hBN). Commensurate increases in the polariton propagation lengthare demonstrated via direct imaging of polaritonic standing waves by means ofinfrared nano-optics. Our results provide the foundation for amaterials-growth-directed approach towards realizing the loss control necessaryfor the development of PhP-based nanophotonic devices.

Conventional optical components are limited to size scales much larger than the wavelength of light, as changes to the amplitude, phase and polarization of the electromagnetic fields are accrued gradually along an optical path. However, advances in nanophotonics have produced ultrathin, so-called 'flat' optical components that beget abrupt changes in these properties over distances significantly shorter than the free-space wavelength. Although high optical losses still plague many approaches, phonon polariton (PhP) materials have demonstrated long lifetimes for sub-diffractional modes in comparison to plasmon-polariton-based nanophotonics. We experimentally observe a threefold improvement in polariton lifetime through isotopic enrichment of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Commensurate increases in the polariton propagation length are demonstrated via direct imaging of polaritonic standing waves by means of infrared nano-optics. Our results provide the foundation for a materials-growth-directed approach aimed at realizing the loss control necessary for the development of PhP-based nanophotonic devices.

Conventional optical components are limited to size-scales much larger thanthe wavelength of light, as changes in the amplitude, phase and polarization ofthe electromagnetic fields are accrued gradually along an optical path.However, advances in nanophotonics have produced ultra-thin, co-called "flat"optical components that beget abrupt changes in these properties over distancessignificantly shorter than the free space wavelength. While high optical lossesstill plague many approaches, phonon polariton (PhP) materials havedemonstrated long lifetimes for sub-diffractional modes in comparison toplasmon-polariton-based nanophotonics. We experimentally observe a three-foldimprovement in polariton lifetime through isotopic enrichment of hexagonalboron nitride (hBN). Commensurate increases in the polariton propagation lengthare demonstrated via direct imaging of polaritonic standing waves by means ofinfrared nano-optics. Our results provide the foundation for amaterials-growth-directed approach towards realizing the loss control necessaryfor the development of PhP-based nanophotonic devices.