Fundamentals of Nano-Optics in Hyperbolic van der Waals Materials

This thesis focuses on the study of phonon polaritons—hybrids of infrared light and lattice vibrations—in van der Waals polar materials, particularly strongly anisotropic (hyperbolic) ones. It combines experiments, analytical theory, and numerical simulations to explore nanoscale optical phenomena that challenge our conventional understanding, such as negative reflection, anomalous refraction and polariton canalization. These studies have paved the way for practical applications in integrat...