Dirac terahertz plasmonics in two and three dimensions

Abstract

Material science at the beginning of the twenty-first century has largely been dominated by the study of graphene and other Dirac-type materials. Interesting physics manifest in the linear electronic bandstructure of Dirac-type materials, more so on the behavior of photons interacting with it. Moreover, with the recent discovery of three-dimensional Dirac semimetals (3DS), dimensionality becomes an important factor in the overall terahertz response. In this brief review, we look at some of the established physics behind the terahertz plasmonic response in Dirac materials, the contributions from their linear electronic bandstructure and dimensionality, as well as the current progress in device design and implementation. In particular, the strong terahertz response of Dirac material would have important implications in the development of terahertz-based communication systems and Internet-of-Things applications.