Prototype for Strong Interaction of Micron-Sized van der Waals Materials with Sub-Millimeter Waves Using a Single Metal Antenna

The article delves into the challenges posed by the diffraction limit in terahertz spectroscopy, which hinders the study of low-energy excitations in micron-sized van der Waals (vdW) materials. To address this, the authors propose a prototype platform utilizing metal antennas to achieve strong interaction between sub-millimeter waves and micron-sized vdW materials. The study demonstrates significant reductions in resonant transmission when graphite flakes are positioned on single and coupled slot antennas, indicating enhanced light-matter interaction. Furthermore, the authors explore the application of bowtie antennas for 3D electromagnetic confinement, showcasing the versatility of the proposed approach. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the experimental results, supported by theoretical simulations, and discusses the potential of the platform for investigating various quasiparticles and low-energy excitations in micron-sized systems. The findings pave the way for advancements in terahertz spectroscopy and the study of low-dimensional materials.