Tunable linear polarization of interface excitons at lateral heterojunctions

Abstract: We develop a theory of polarized photoluminescence of interface excitons localized at lateral heterojunctions between transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers. We show that the circular selection rules governing interband optical transitions exactly at the band extrema are modified at finite wave vectors. The corresponding wave-vector-dependent corrections to the optical matrix elements result in a net linear polarization of excitonic photoluminescence. We identify two microscopic mechanisms responsible for linear polarization$-$trigonal warping of the electron and hole dispersions and the energy dependence of the effective masses. Their interplay controls both the magnitude and the angle of the emitted light polarization, with distinct dependences on the crystallographic orientation of the interface. Using a microscopic variational approach, we demonstrate that the degree of linear polarization can reach values exceeding 10% in realistic heterostructures. Furthermore, due to the large built-in dipole moment of interface excitons, their optical response can be tuned by an external in-plane electric field, enabling control over the strength and direction of the polarization.