Area B

Research in Project Area B is focused on the investigation of nonlinear optics in atomically thin two-dimen­sional structures. Thereby, Project Area B covers the full structural diversity of two-dimensional materials ranging from novel crystalline structures, such as metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), to amorphous films, e.g. as provided by atomic layer deposition. Project Area B projects will examine optically induced carrier and excitation dynamics through and along these very different two-dimensional structures and will identify the impact on the nonlinear optical properties of this novel material system. Central questions to be addressed deal with identifying the structural measures needed to increase or modify and tailor quadratic, possibly even higher-order nonlinearities of these (functional­ized) two-dimensional structures. In addition, two-dimensional structures will be functionalized, e.g., by applying resonant structures, by insert­ing ultrathin gaps between metallic walls, or by stacking bi- or multilayers, by chemical functionalization with molecules, or by inserting point defects, thereby naturally bridging the gap to research area C.