ESE PhD Thesis Defense: “Light matter interaction in low-dimensional semiconductors”

Light matter interaction holds significant relevance across a range of applications including lasing, sensing, communications, and computing. One prominent method for modulating optical properties is through the use of a Fabry-Perot cavity, which controls the photonic density of states within optical cavities. Additionally, plasmonic and high-contrast dielectric cavities represent a cutting-edge approach for photonic dispersion engineering and phase modulation. These techniques confine light field distribution within nanostructures whose dimensions are comparable to, or smaller than, the light wavelength. Materials exhibiting resonant quantum confined states, such as excitons, phonons, and magnons, offer alternate avenues for manipulating light propagation and interaction. This thesis aims to explore light-matter interactions within various innovative low-dimensional semiconductors. This exploration is achieved by generating cavity photons either out-of-plane (Fabry-Perot cavity) or in-plane (plasmonic or dielectric cavity), offering an innovative platform for enhancing light matter interactions and tuning optical properties. The talk will present examples of the above using chalcogenide-based excitonic semiconductors showing strong exciton-polariton coupling and antiferromagnetic semiconductors showing near unity linear dichroism and exciton-magnon coupling.