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Long-range optical coupling with epsilon-near-zero materials

Author

Listed:
  • Danqing Wang

    (Fudan University
    Berkeley
    Berkeley
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Zheyu Lu

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Berkeley
    Berkeley)

  • Sorren Warkander

    (Berkeley)

  • Niharika Gupta

    (Berkeley)

  • Qingjun Wang

    (Berkeley)

  • Penghong Ci

    (Berkeley
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Ruihan Guo

    (Berkeley
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Jiachen Li

    (Berkeley)

  • Ali Javey

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Berkeley)

  • Jie Yao

    (Berkeley
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • Feng Wang

    (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Berkeley)

  • Junqiao Wu

    (Berkeley
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

Abstract

Long-range resonant quantum tunneling of electrons happens across potential barriers when the wavefunction interferes constructively outside the barrier. Here we demonstrate an analogy in optical systems based on epsilon-near-zero materials, achieving phase-modulated, long-range optical interactions between transparent semiconducting oxide layers beyond the evanescent photonic coupling. Distinct from weak thin-film interference, intense electromagnetic fields confined within the epsilon-near-zero thin films show anti-correlated intensity oscillations as a function of interlayer separation up to hundreds of microns. The oscillatory, anti-correlated electromagnetic field intensities were probed by second harmonic generation from wedged indium tin oxide multilayers. Such a system that hosts subwavelength mode footprint and simultaneously long-range radiative coupling offers prospects for long-distance optical communication, large-scale photonic circuits, and hybrid quantum photonic systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Danqing Wang & Zheyu Lu & Sorren Warkander & Niharika Gupta & Qingjun Wang & Penghong Ci & Ruihan Guo & Jiachen Li & Ali Javey & Jie Yao & Feng Wang & Junqiao Wu, 2025. "Long-range optical coupling with epsilon-near-zero materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-64504-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64504-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Justus Bohn & Ting Shan Luk & Craig Tollerton & Sam W. Hutchings & Igal Brener & Simon Horsley & William L. Barnes & Euan Hendry, 2021. "Author Correction: All-optical switching of an epsilon-near-zero plasmon resonance in indium tin oxide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-1, December.
    2. Justus Bohn & Ting Shan Luk & Craig Tollerton & Sam W. Hutchings & Igal Brener & Simon Horsley & William L. Barnes & Euan Hendry, 2021. "All-optical switching of an epsilon-near-zero plasmon resonance in indium tin oxide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-6, December.
    3. Rohit Chikkaraddy & Bart de Nijs & Felix Benz & Steven J. Barrow & Oren A. Scherman & Edina Rosta & Angela Demetriadou & Peter Fox & Ortwin Hess & Jeremy J. Baumberg, 2016. "Single-molecule strong coupling at room temperature in plasmonic nanocavities," Nature, Nature, vol. 535(7610), pages 127-130, July.
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