Difference frequency generation of terahertz surface plasmons in graphene and topological insulators

Massless Dirac electrons in graphene and surface states of topological insulators have peculiar optical properties and strong coupling to light. Surface plasmons in these materials may provide an attractive alternative to noble-metal plasmons due to their tighter confinement, peculiar dispersion, and longer propagation distance. We present theoretical studies of the difference frequency generation (DFG) of terahertz surface plasmon modes supported by two-dimensional layers of massless Dirac electrons, which includes monolayer graphene and surface states in topological insulators. Our results demonstrate strong enhancement of the DFG efficiency near the plasmon resonance and the feasibility of phase-matched nonlinear generation of plasmons over a broad range of frequencies. © 2014 SPIE.

Difference frequency generation of terahertz surface plasmons in graphene and topological insulators Conference Paper