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Probing low-energy hyperbolic polaritons in van der Waals crystals with an electron microscope

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander A. Govyadinov

    (CIC nanoGUNE)

  • Andrea Konečná

    (Materials Physics Center, CSIC-UPV/EHU)

  • Andrey Chuvilin

    (CIC nanoGUNE
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science)

  • Saül Vélez

    (CIC nanoGUNE)

  • Irene Dolado

    (CIC nanoGUNE)

  • Alexey Y. Nikitin

    (CIC nanoGUNE
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science)

  • Sergei Lopatin

    (Imaging and Characterization Core Lab, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology)

  • Fèlix Casanova

    (CIC nanoGUNE
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science)

  • Luis E. Hueso

    (CIC nanoGUNE
    IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science)

  • Javier Aizpurua

    (Materials Physics Center, CSIC-UPV/EHU
    Donostia International Physics Center DIPC)

  • Rainer Hillenbrand

    (IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science
    CIC nanoGUNE and UPV/EHU)

Abstract

Van der Waals materials exhibit intriguing structural, electronic, and photonic properties. Electron energy loss spectroscopy within scanning transmission electron microscopy allows for nanoscale mapping of such properties. However, its detection is typically limited to energy losses in the eV range—too large for probing low-energy excitations such as phonons or mid-infrared plasmons. Here, we adapt a conventional instrument to probe energy loss down to 100 meV, and map phononic states in hexagonal boron nitride, a representative van der Waals material. The boron nitride spectra depend on the flake thickness and on the distance of the electron beam to the flake edges. To explain these observations, we developed a classical response theory that describes the interaction of fast electrons with (anisotropic) van der Waals slabs, revealing that the electron energy loss is dominated by excitation of hyperbolic phonon polaritons, and not of bulk phonons as often reported. Thus, our work is of fundamental importance for interpreting future low-energy loss spectra of van der Waals materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander A. Govyadinov & Andrea Konečná & Andrey Chuvilin & Saül Vélez & Irene Dolado & Alexey Y. Nikitin & Sergei Lopatin & Fèlix Casanova & Luis E. Hueso & Javier Aizpurua & Rainer Hillenbrand, 2017. "Probing low-energy hyperbolic polaritons in van der Waals crystals with an electron microscope," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-00056-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00056-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Hailing Jiang & Tao Wang & Zhenyu Zhang & Fang Liu & Ruochen Shi & Bowen Sheng & Shanshan Sheng & Weikun Ge & Ping Wang & Bo Shen & Bo Sun & Peng Gao & Lucas Lindsay & Xinqiang Wang, 2024. "Atomic-scale visualization of defect-induced localized vibrations in GaN," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Jiade Li & Li Wang & Yani Wang & Zhiyu Tao & Weiliang Zhong & Zhibin Su & Siwei Xue & Guangyao Miao & Weihua Wang & Hailin Peng & Jiandong Guo & Xuetao Zhu, 2024. "Observation of the nonanalytic behavior of optical phonons in monolayer hexagonal boron nitride," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Alaric Bergeron & Clément Gradziel & Richard Leonelli & Sébastien Francoeur, 2023. "Probing hyperbolic and surface phonon-polaritons in 2D materials using Raman spectroscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.

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