Talk: Nanophotonics with 2D semiconductors from valleytronics to quantum light sources

2D transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are atomically thin semiconductors with direct band gaps in the monolayer, strong photoluminescence, pronounced excitonic effects, high optical nonlinearity, and valley-contrasting selection rules, features that make them compelling for compact photonic and quantum devices. Their planar geometry enables straightforward integration with nanophotonic architectures, and hybrid TMD - photonic systems already power light-emitting metasurfaces, tunable optics, ultrafast wavefront control, and holography.

In valleytronics, the K/K′ valleys act as an addressable degree of freedom. In monolayer TMDs, circularly polarized light selectively excites each valley and the emitted photons retain the valley information, enabling optical initialization and readout.

In this talk, I will present our recent results on hybrid platforms where valley-polarized photoluminescence from TMD monolayers couples to resonant nanophotonic structures. I will discuss coupling regimes from weak to strong light-matter interaction, highlighting how photonic design controls valley degree of freedom. I will then examine microscopic valley dynamics under structured-light excitation. Finally, I will outline prospects for integrable quantum light sources based on 2D TMDs and their seamless integration into on-chip photonics.

Short Bio: 

Since 2022 Dr. Zlata Fedorova is a postdoctoral researcher at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, working at the interface of nanophotonics and 2D semiconductors. Her research explores valleytronics, nonlinear optics, and quantum light generation in hybrid nanophotonic platforms. She earned her PhD in Physics from the University of Bonn in 2022, working on photonic simulations of time-periodic and topological tight-binding systems.  She is currently laying the groundwork to establish her own junior research group on integrated quantum photonics with 2D semiconductors.