2 - Modeling metamaterials: Planar heterostructures based on graphene, silicene, and germanene

Abstract

Low-dimensional nanophotonic materials have unique properties that are due to quantum effects. In addition, they have emergent properties that arise from collective interactions in the material. These collective interactions may include, for example, complex quasiparticle interactions as well as structural coupling at an interfacial boundary in a heterostructure. Physical properties of nanophotonic materials may be modeled with a high degree of accuracy, provided that the technique used considers properties on the atomistic scale and the continuum, as well as bridging this hierarchal gap. This chapter details the theory and modeling techniques involved in creating accurate and predictive models for nanophotonic heterostructures based on 2D materials including graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, and 2D-Xenes such as silicene and germane.