OPTICAL CONTROL OF VO₂HETEROSTRUCTURES

The condensed matter community has kept a growing interest in VO₂ due to its key role in the realization of neuromorphic computing devices and other resistive-switching applications. Nevertheless, its strong insulator-to-metal transition (IMT) close to room temperature and the possibility to grow thin films in a simple sputtering chamber opens the door to the fabrication of heterostructures based in VO₂ with expanded functionalities.  In this work, we present a simple structure based on the combination of high quality VO₂ thin films and optically active metallic nanostructures.  We aim to understand the interplay between the optical and electrical response in the system while characterizing the thermal dynamics of the system. Often overlooked, the local temperature in the VO₂ film can be greatly impacted by an external electric field or light in the visible and near-infrared regimes. By combining optical excitation, structural characterization, and thermal and transport measurements we are able to shed light in the complex interplay between electrical and optical degrees of freedom.