A platform for far-infrared spectroscopy of quantum materials at millikelvin temperatures

Abstract

Optical spectroscopy of quantum materials at ultralow temperatures is rarely explored, yet it may provide critical characterizations of quantum phases not possible using other approaches. We describe the development of a novel experimental platform that enables optical spectroscopic studies, together with standard electronic transport, of materials at millikelvin temperatures inside a dilution refrigerator. The instrument is capable of measuring both bulk crystals and micrometer-sized two-dimensional van der Waals materials and devices. We demonstrate its performance by implementing photocurrent-based Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on a monolayer WTe2 device and a multilayer 1T-TaS2 crystal, with a spectral range available from the near-infrared to the terahertz regime and in magnetic fields up to 5 T. In the far-infrared regime, we achieve spectroscopic measurements at a base temperature as low as ∼43 mK and a sample electron temperature of ∼450 mK. Possible experiments and potential future upgrades of this versatile instrumental platform are envisioned.