{"id":30,"date":"2021-11-04T19:52:52","date_gmt":"2021-11-04T23:52:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/?page_id=30"},"modified":"2026-01-23T08:20:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T13:20:20","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4 style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Near-field microscopy<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Near-field microscopy is one of the most powerful techniques for the surface characterization at the nanoscale. This technique can reach resolutions of tens of nanometer, allowing us to study the light-matter interactions happening beyond the classical diffraction limit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nowadays, we are interested in the interactions between light and noble metals, as well as two-dimensional materials as MoS2.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Please contact us if you have any idea for collaborations.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left\">\n<li><strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong> and M. H. Carhart<strong>*<\/strong>, In-situ momentum dispersion in a single crystal of MoS2. <em>Rev. Mex. Fis.<\/em> 70050201 (2024). <a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2025\/05\/Merlo_2024_Rev.-Mex.-Fis.-70050201.pdf\">https:\/\/rmf.smf.mx\/ojs\/index.php\/rmf\/article\/view\/7511<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, R. J. Ettinger-Finley<strong>*<\/strong>, M. H. Carhart<strong>*<\/strong>, F. Binny<strong>*<\/strong>, and L. Merlo-Ram\u00edrez, Simultaneous mapping of the magnetic field components using near-field microscopy. <em>Jour. Opt.<\/em> <strong>26<\/strong>, 025401 (2024).\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2026\/01\/Merlo_2024_J._Opt._26_025401.pdf\">https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/2040-8986\/ad21e0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, N. T. Nesbitt, Y. M. Calm, A. H. Rose, L. D\u2019Imperio, C. Yang, M. J. Burns, K. Kempa, M. J. Naughton, Wireless communication system via nanoscale plasmonic antennas.\u00a0<em>Scientific Reports<\/em> <strong>6<\/strong>, 31710 (2016).\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2026\/01\/srep31710.pdf\">https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep31710<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, F. Ye, B. Rizal, M. J. Burns, M. J. Naughton, Near-field observation of light propagation in nanocoax waveguides. <em>Opt. Express<\/em> <strong>22<\/strong>, 14148-14154 (2014).\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2026\/01\/oe-22-12-14148.pdf\">https:\/\/www.osapublishing.org\/oe\/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-22-12-14148&amp;id=289502<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Plasmonics<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Plasmonics refers to the control and manipulation of surface plasmons polaritons (SPPs) -the cumulative oscillations of the conduction electrons in metals-. The most common metals used in plasmonics are Au, Ag, and Al.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">We are interested in the interactions between SPPs and excitons generated in semiconductors, particularly in two-dimensional materials.<\/p>\n<p>Please contact us if you have any idea for collaborations.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left\">\n<li><strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong> and M. H. Carhart<strong>*<\/strong>, In-plane radiation pattern generated by large particles in dielectric substrates. <em>Jour. Opt.<\/em> <strong>26<\/strong> 085401 (2024).\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2026\/01\/Merlo_2024_J._Opt._26_085401.pdf\">https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/2040-8986\/ad5c7d<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, C. Rhoads<strong>*<\/strong>, and M. H. Carhart<strong>*<\/strong>, Anisotropic generation and detection of surface plasmon polaritons using near-field apertured probes. <em>IEEE Photonics Journal<\/em>, <strong>15<\/strong>, 5, 4800405, (2023).\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2025\/05\/Merlo_2023_IEEE_Photon_15_5-1.pdf\">https:\/\/ieeexplore.ieee.org\/document\/10234094<\/a><\/li>\n<li>A. Rose, J. Dunklin, H. Zhang, <strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, J. van de Lagemaat, Plasmon-mediated coherent superposition of discrete excitons under strong exciton-plasmon coupling in few-layer MoS2 at room temperature. <em>ACS Photonics<\/em><strong>7<\/strong>, 1129\u20131134 (2020).\u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2025\/05\/Rose_2020_ACS_Photon_7_1129-1.pdf\">https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/abs\/10.1021\/acsphotonics.0c00233<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Wireless Communication System via Nanoscale Plasmonic Antennas. US Patent: US-10193638-B2. <a href=\"https:\/\/ppubs.uspto.gov\/api\/pdf\/downloadPdf\/10193638?requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiJiM2M2ZmQwNS05NmIyLTQ5MzgtYjg3Ny0zZjc5NzBkNGY5NGUiLCJ2ZXIiOiIyNzcyMDNiYi1lZWJiLTQyY2EtOGE1MS0yNTA1MWM1ZTBlMzMiLCJleHAiOjB9\">https:\/\/ppubs.uspto.gov\/api\/pdf\/downloadPdf\/10193638?requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiJiM2M2ZmQwNS05NmIyLTQ5MzgtYjg3Ny0zZjc5NzBkNGY5NGUiLCJ2ZXIiOiIyNzcyMDNiYi1lZWJiLTQyY2EtOGE1MS0yNTA1MWM1ZTBlMzMiLCJleHAiOjB9<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, N. T. Nesbitt, Y. M. Calm, A. H. Rose, L. D\u2019Imperio, C. Yang, M. J. Burns, K. Kempa, M. J. Naughton, Wireless communication system via nanoscale plasmonic antennas.\u00a0<em>Scientific Reports<\/em>\u00a0<strong>6<\/strong>, 31710 (2016).\u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2026\/01\/srep31710.pdf\">https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/srep31710<\/a><\/li>\n<li>T. Nesbitt,\u00a0<strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, A. H. Rose, Y. M. Calm, K. Kempa, M. J. Burns, M. J. Naughton, Aluminum Nanowire Arrays via Directed Assembly.\u00a0<em>Nano Letters<\/em>\u00a0<strong>15<\/strong>, 7294\u20137299 (2015).\u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/abs\/10.1021\/acs.nanolett.5b02408\">https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/abs\/10.1021\/acs.nanolett.5b02408<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, F. Ye, B. Rizal, M. J. Burns, M. J. Naughton, Leakage radiation microscope for observation of non-transparent samples.\u00a0<em>Opt. Express<\/em>\u00a0<strong>22<\/strong>, 22895-22904 (2014).\u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2026\/01\/oe-22-19-22895.pdf\">https:\/\/www.osapublishing.org\/oe\/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-22-19-22895&amp;id=301296<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Topological phases of matter in classical systems<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Topology is the study of the shapes and their invariants. It has been discovered that the energy bands in some materials can show protected topologies, meaning that such materials can present robustness against disorder in their lattice. Topological phases of matter where first demonstrated in quantum system. Recently, the topological phase transitions have been demonstrated in classical systems as acoustic, electromagnetic, and mechanical systems.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">We are interested in the study of topological phase transitions in electromagnetic and mechanical systems.<\/p>\n<p>Please contact us if you have any idea for collaborations.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left\">\n<li>M. H. Carhart*+, Parker Fairfield*+, <strong>J. M. Merlo+<\/strong>, L. Thatcher, L. Merlo-Ram\u00edrez, Longitudinal One-Dimensional Mechanical Topological Insulator. <em>Phys. Scr.<\/em> 99, 115998 (2024).\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2026\/01\/Carhart_2024_Phys._Scr._99_115998.pdf\">https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/1402-4896\/ad87bd<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Optical Logic Circuit Devices and Methods Thereof. US-Patent Pending: US-20230350270-A1.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/ppubs.uspto.gov\/api\/pdf\/downloadPdf\/20230350270?requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiJiM2M2ZmQwNS05NmIyLTQ5MzgtYjg3Ny0zZjc5NzBkNGY5NGUiLCJ2ZXIiOiIyNzcyMDNiYi1lZWJiLTQyY2EtOGE1MS0yNTA1MWM1ZTBlMzMiLCJleHAiOjB9\">https:\/\/ppubs.uspto.gov\/api\/pdf\/downloadPdf\/20230350270?requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiJiM2M2ZmQwNS05NmIyLTQ5MzgtYjg3Ny0zZjc5NzBkNGY5NGUiLCJ2ZXIiOiIyNzcyMDNiYi1lZWJiLTQyY2EtOGE1MS0yNTA1MWM1ZTBlMzMiLCJleHAiOjB9<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Luke Thatcher, Parker Fairfield, L\u00e1zaro Merlo-Ram\u00edrez and <strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, Experimental observation of topological phase transitions in a mechanical 1D-SSH model. <em>Phys. Scr.<\/em> <strong><em>97<\/em><\/strong>, 035702 (2022).\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2026\/01\/Carhart_2024_Phys._Scr._99_115998.pdf\">https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/1402-4896\/ac4ed2<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, X. Wu, K. Kempa, M. J. Naughton, All-optical logic gates based on anomalous Floquet photonic topological insulator structures. <em>J. Opt.<\/em> <strong>23<\/strong>, 065001 (2021).\u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2025\/05\/Merlo_2021_J._Opt._23_065001-1.pdf\">https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/2040-8986\/abf8cd\/meta<\/a><\/li>\n<li>S. Wu, F. Ye, <strong><u>J. M. Merlo<\/u><\/strong>, M. J. Naughton, K. Kempa, Topologically protected photonic edge states in the visible in plasmo-gyroelectric metamaterials. <em>Adv. Opt. Mat.<\/em> <strong>1800119<\/strong> (2018).\u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1002\/adom.201800119\">https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1002\/adom.201800119<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Science books for kids<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left\">Looking for an editor!<\/li>\n<li>Enigma the Quantum Dog (In progress) (Author: Juan M. Merlo. Illustrated by Aidan Dombrosky)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"792\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-3.07.58\u202fPM-1-792x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-363\" style=\"width:330px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-3.07.58\u202fPM-1-792x1024.png 792w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-3.07.58\u202fPM-1-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-3.07.58\u202fPM-1-768x993.png 768w, https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/files\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-19-at-3.07.58\u202fPM-1.png 1084w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Near-field microscopy Near-field microscopy is one of the most powerful techniques for the surface characterization at the nanoscale. This technique can reach resolutions of tens of nanometer, allowing us to study the light-matter interactions happening beyond the classical diffraction limit. Nowadays, we are interested in the interactions between light and noble metals, as well as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9525,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-30","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9525"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":409,"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/30\/revisions\/409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.vassar.edu\/merlolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}