Tailoring Nonlinear Optical Response and Ultrafast lattice Dynamics in 2D Materials with Sudeep Puri
Two-dimensional (2D) materials offer a versatile platform for exploring and engineering light-matter interactions through their unique structural, electronic and optical properties. In this talk, I will present our recent investigations into how the strain, stacking order, and optical interference influence nonlinear and ultrafast optical response in layered semiconductors. First, I will discuss how biaxial tensile strain and substrate interference enhance second-harmonic generation (SHG) in monolayer MoSe2. Next, I will explore the role of stacking symmetry and ferroelectric domains in nonlinear optical response in layered SnS, where ultrafast spectroscopy revealed anisotropic photostriction driven by electron deformation potential. Furthermore, I will discuss how thin-film optical interference can significantly modulate the transient reflectivity signal. Together, these findings demonstrate promising strategies to engineer light-matter interactions in low-dimensional materials towards future nonlinear photonic and ultrafast optomechanical devices.