Graphene supports the propagation of subwavelength optical solitons

Abstract

Nonlinear propagation of light in a graphene monolayer is studied theoretically. It is shown how the large intrinsic nonlinearity of graphene at optical frequencies enables the formation of quasi one-dimensional self-guided beams (spatial solitons) featuring subwavelength widths at moderate electric-field peak intensities. A novel class of nonlinear self-confined modes resulting from the hybridization of surface plasmon polaritons with graphene optical solitons is also demonstrated. KGaA, Weinheim.