Exciton Assisted Deeply Subwavelength Nano-Photonics

Abstract: The wave nature of light sets a fundamental diffraction limit that challenges confinement and control of light in nanoscale structures with dimensions significantly smaller than the wavelength. Here, we demonstrate van der Waals MoS_2 nano-photonic devices with dimensions as small as ~ \lambda/16 (~60 nm at 1000 nm excitation wavelength). This deep subwavelength light confinement is achieved by exploiting the coupling between MoS_2 excitons and photons. We validate deep subwavelength light control via far- and near-field measurements. Our near-field measurements reveal detailed imaging of excitation, evolution, and guidance of fields in MoS_2 nanodevices, whereas our far-field study examines highly confined integrated photonics. Exciton-driven nano-photonics at a fraction of a wavelength demonstrated here could dramatically reduce the size of integrated photonic devices and opto-electronic circuits with potential applications in optical information science and engineering.