Electrically Driven Plasmon-Polaritonic Bistability in Dirac Electron Tunneling Transistors

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Abstract
Bistability-two distinct stable states under identical parameters-is not only a fundamental physical concept but also of importance in practical applications. While plasmon-polaritonic bistability representing history-dependent stable states within plasmonic systems has been theoretically predicted, it has yet to be demonstrated experimentally due to challenges in realizing suitable nonlinearity at feasible electric-field strengths. Here, we report the experimental observation of electrically driven plasmon-polaritonic bistability in graphene/hexagonal-boron-nitride/graphene tunneling transistors, achieved through momentum-conserving resonant tunneling of Dirac electrons. Using a small twist angle between graphene layers, we engineered devices exhibiting both electronic and plasmon-polaritonic bistability. This bistable plasmonic behavior can be precisely tuned through load resistance and electrostatic gating. Our findings open new pathways for exploring nonlinear optical and electronic phenomena in van der Waals heterostructures and mark a significant advance in nanoplasmonics, with potential applications in optical memory, sensing, and optoelectronic switching.
Funding Information
  • University of Dayton Research Institute (SUB-25-000008)
  • U.S. Department of Energy (DOE-BESDE-SC0018426)
  • Office of Science
  • Basic Energy Sciences (DE-SC0019443)
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (200021_227862)
  • Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (SYNEMA ETH-15 19-1)
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (21H05233)
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (23H02052)
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
  • European Research Council (101141220-QUEFES)
  • Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (PID2024-157421NB-I00)
  • Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (CEX2024-001490-S)
  • Moore Investigator in Quantum Materials (EPIQS GBMF9455)
  • World Premier International Research Center Initiative

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