Broadband amplification of spoof surface plasmon polaritons at microwave frequencies

Efficient amplification of spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) is proposed at microwave frequencies by using a subwavelength‐scale amplifier. For this purpose, a special plasmonic waveguide composed of two ultrathin corrugated metallic strips on top and bottom surfaces of a dielectric substrate with mirror symmetry is presented, which is easy to integrate with the amplifier. It is shown that spoof SPPs are able to propagate on the plasmonic waveguide in broadband with low loss and strong subwavelength effect. By loading a low‐noise amplifier chip produced by the semiconductor technology, the first experiment is demonstrated to amplify spoof SPPs at microwave frequencies (from 6 to 20GHz) with high gain (around 20dB), which can be directly used as a SPP amplifier device. The features of strong field confinement, high efficiency, broadband operation, and significant amplification of the spoof SPPs may advance a big step towards other active SPP components and integrated circuits.

     

介质填充浅槽周期结构表面上的太赫兹表面等离子体激元

通过在金属表面刻成浅的垂直凹槽,并在槽内填充不同的介质,对金属表面浅槽周期结构上传播的表面等离子体激元的色散特性与填充介质的关系进行了研究.研究表明通过在周期凹槽内填充介质可以有效降低人工表面等离子体激元的渐近频率,并增强金属表面对电磁场的约束.分析了太赫兹波段金属的吸收损耗对人工表面等离子体激元特性的影响,结果显示基于填充介质的浅槽周期表面结构可以获得长距离传输以及场的亚波长约束.通过对波传输的数值仿真,验证了该表面结构在太赫兹波段良好的导波能力.这种表面结构对太赫兹波段新型集成导波器件的设计具有参考价值.     

介质填充浅槽周期结构表面上的太赫兹表面等离子体激元

通过在金属表面刻成浅的垂直凹槽,并在槽内填充不同的介质,对金属表面浅槽周期结构上传播的表面等离子体激元的色散特性与填充介质的关系进行了研究.研究表明通过在周期凹槽内填充介质可以有效降低人工表面等离子体激元的渐近频率,并增强金属表面对电磁场的约束.分析了太赫兹波段金属的吸收损耗对人工表面等离子体激元特性的影响,结果显示基于填充介质的浅槽周期表面结构可以获得长距离传输以及场的亚波长约束.通过对波传输的数值仿真,验证了该表面结构在太赫兹波段良好的导波能力.这种表面结构对太赫兹波段新型集成导波器件的设计具有参考价值.     

Polarization-insensitive unidirectional spoof surface plasmon polaritons coupling by gradient metasurface

A polarization-insensitive unidirectional spoof surface plasmon polariton(SPP) coupler mediated by a gradient metasurface is proposed. The field distributions and average Poynting vector of the coupled spoof SPPs are analyzed. The simulated and experimental results support the theoretical analysis and indicate that the designed gradient metasurface can couple both the parallel-polarized and normally-polarized incident waves to the spoof SPPs propagating in the same direction at about 5 GHz.     

Spoof surface plasmon-based bandpass filter with extremely wide upper stopband

We investigate the guiding modes of spoof surface plasmon polaritons(SPPs) on a symmetric ultra-thin plasmonic structure. From the analysis, we deduce the operating frequency region of the single-mode propagation. Based on this property, a spoof SPPs lowpass filter is then constituted in the microwave frequency. By introducing a transmission zero at the lower frequency band using a pair of stepped-impedance stubs, a wide passband filter is further realized. The proposed filter is fed by a transducer composed of a microstrip line with a flaring ground. The simulated results show that the presented filter has an extremely wide upper stopband in addition to excellent passband filtering characteristics such as low loss, wide band, and high square ratio. A prototype passband filter is also fabricated to validate the predicted performances.The proposed spoof-SPPs filter is believed to be very promising for other surface waveguide components in microwave and terahertz bands.     

Tribological behavior of micro/nano-patterned surfaces in contact with AFM colloidal probe

In effort to investigate the influence of the micro/nano-patterning or surface texturing on the nanotribological properties of patterned surfaces, the patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces with pillars were fabricated by replica molding technique. The surface morphologies of patterned PDMS surfaces with varying pillar sizes and spacing between pillars were characterized by atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The AFM/FFM was used to acquire the friction force images of micro/nano-patterned surfaces using a colloidal probe. A difference in friction force produced a contrast on the friction force images when the colloidal probe slid over different regions of the patterned polymer surfaces. The average friction force of patterned surface was related to the spacing between the pillars and their size. It decreased with the decreasing of spacing between the pillars and the increasing of pillar size. A reduction in friction force was attributed to the reduced area of contact between patterned surface and colloidal probe. Additionally, the average friction force increased with increasing applied load and sliding velocity.     

Terahertz surface plasmon-polariton propagation and focusing on periodically corrugated metal wires

In this Letter, we show how the dispersion relation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) propagating along a perfectly conducting wire can be tailored by corrugating its surface with a periodic array of radial grooves. In this way, highly localized SPPs can be sustained in the terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Importantly, the propagation characteristics of these spoof SPPs can be controlled by the surface geometry, opening the way to important applications such as energy concentration on cylindrical wires and superfocusing using conical structures.     

Broadband and high‐efficiency conversion from guided waves to spoof surface plasmon polaritons

The conversion from spatial propagating waves to surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) has been well studied, and shown to be very efficient by using gradient‐index metasurfaces. However, feeding energies into and extracting signals from functional plasmonic devices or circuits through transmission lines require the efficient conversion between SPPs and guided waves, which has not been reported, to the best of our knowledge. In this paper, a smooth bridge between the conventional coplanar waveguide (CPW) with 50 Ω impedance and plasmonic waveguide (e.g., an ultrathin corrugated metallic strip) has been proposed in the microwave frequency, which converts the guided waves to spoof SPPs with high efficiency in broadband. A matching transition has been proposed and designed, which is constructed by gradient corrugations and flaring ground, to match both the momentum and impedance of CPW and the plasmonic waveguide. Simulated and measured results on the transmission coefficients and near‐filed distributions show excellent transmission efficiency from CPW to a plasmonic waveguide to CPW in a wide frequency band. The high‐efficiency and broadband conversion between SPPs and guided waves opens up a new avenue for advanced conventional plasmonic integrated functional devices and circuits.     

The geometric pattern of a pillared substrate influences the cell-process distribution and shapes of fibroblasts

Fibroblasts alter their shape, direction of movement, cytoskeleton arrangement, and focal contact when placed upon square array pillars. We prepared pillars of 1 μm diameter, separated by 3 μm, and having 1, 5, and 10 μm heights using substrates displaying identical surface chemistry. When cells seeded initially onto the tops of the pillars, fibroblasts subsequently were immobilized in situ by several pillars that visibly protruded through, but did not pierce, the cell bodies. The cytoplasma then migrated outward with long straight lamella along the interval of the pillars and formed several discrete attachment zones at their side walls – the value of their form index (FI) was as high as 35 – which altered the cellular shape entirely. Most of the cells interacted with the pillar substrate by spreading preferentially in a particular direction, but some of them had the ability to undergo coincident two-direction (x and y) migration; right-angle turn orientations led to the growth of dramatic cellular morphologies. Interestingly, this fibroblast's behavior variation was gradually in proportion to the pillar height of substrate. Our results confirm that cellular migration and cellular shape are both strongly affected by the geometry of the growth microenvironment.     

Dispersion of surface plasmon polaritons on metal wires in the terahertz frequency range

We report the experimental and theoretical study of the dispersive behavior of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on cylindrical metal surfaces in the terahertz frequency range. Time-domain measurements of terahertz SPPs propagating on metal wires reveal a unique structure that is inconsistent with a simple extrapolation of the high frequency portion of the dispersion diagram for SPPs on a planar metal surface, and also distinct from that of SPPs on metal nanowires observed at visible and near-infrared frequencies. The results are consistent with a numerical solution of Maxwell's equations, showing that the dispersive behavior of SPPs on a cylindrical metal surface at terahertz frequencies is quite different from that of SPPs on a flat surface. These findings indicate the increasing importance of skin effects for SPPs in the terahertz range, as well as the enhancement of such effects on curved surfaces.     

二维介质柱光子晶体波导的优化设计

通过改变靠近导光区域介质柱的直径和周期,优化设计了二维介质柱光子晶体波导.结果表明：单独增大和减小柱的直径以及增大柱的周期不能提高波导的传输特性;单独减小柱的周期能提高波导的传输特性,获得传输系数小于1 dB,带宽80 nm的波谱;同时减小柱的直径及周期能够极大的提高波导的传输特性,得到了带宽为150~250 nm,传输系数小于1 dB的波谱.     

Propagation of surface plasmon polaritons on semiconductor gratings

We present time-domain measurements of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) propagating on gratings structured on silicon surfaces. Using single-cycle pulses of terahertz radiation to excite SPPs in a broad frequency range, we observe that the efficient SPPs scattering on the semiconductor periodic structure introduces significant dispersion and modifies the SPPs propagation. A stop gap, or a frequency range where SPPs are Bragg reflected, is formed by the structure. This gap depends strongly on the Si doping density and type. The resonant scattering at the edge of the gap reduces the group velocity by more than a factor of 2. The measurements show a good agreement with our numerical calculations based on the reduced Rayleigh equation.     

Formation of nano-textured conical microstructures in titanium metal surface by femtosecond laser irradiation

We report for the first time that a regular array of sharp nano-textured conical microstructures are formed on the titanium metal surface by irradiation with ultrafast laser pulses of 130 fs duration, 800 nm wavelength in vacuum (∼1 mbar) or in 100 mbar He. The microstructures are up to 25 μm tall, and taper to about 500 nm diameters at the tip. Irradiation in the presence of SF₆, air or HCl creates a textured surface but does not create sharp conical microstructures. The surfaces of these microstructures exhibit periodic nano-texture of feature size comparable to the wavelength of light consistent with ripple formation. Contrary to pillar formation by femtosecond laser irradiation of silicon where the initial ripples evolve into the pillars and the ripples disappear, the ripples on titanium pillars have a much smaller periodicity than the pillars and remain on the surface of the pillars. The textured surface is pitch black compared to its original silver-grayish color, i.e, it exhibits greatly reduced reflectivity throughout the measured visible spectrum. PACS 52.38.Mf; 79.20.Ds; 81.07.-b; 81.16.-c; 82.53.-k     

Effects of the microstructure slab with pillars on light extraction of GaN light-emitting diode

The positive z direction relative light extraction efficiency of GaN light-emitting diodes with microstructure slab is calculated by three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method, where the microstructure slab consists of a graphite lattice of pillars. The results show that the two-dimensional graphite-arranged pillars suppress light extraction. When there is a thick pillar in the middle of the pillars, the structure can enhance light extraction of the light-emitting diodes. The tower-like pillars, which are thin on the top of the pillars and thick on the bottom of the pillars, benefit the light extraction when the angle of the tower-like pillars is proper.     

Characterization of ultra-fast deposited polycrystalline graphite by a CO2 laser-assisted combustion-flame method

High deposition rate, 750 μm/min, crystalline graphite was deposited on WC substrates by a CO₂ laser-assisted combustion-flame method at laser powers between 300 and 800 W. The structures, which were identified as pillars, were characterized by various methods. The pillars were cylindrical in shape and grew to a size of approximately 3 mm in length and in a few minutes. The laser power did not affect the overall length of the pillar, but caused changes in the physical shape. X-ray and electron diffraction results revealed the pillars to be crystalline graphite regardless of the laser power. Investigation of the pillars by scanning electron microscopy showed two distinct microstructural areas: an inner core of dense material surrounded by an outer shell of lamellar-like material. The core/shell microstructure was unaffected by the level of CO₂ laser power.     

The performances of silicon solar cell with core–shell p-n junctions of micro-nano pillars fabricated by cesium chloride self-assembly and dry etching

Silicon micro-nano pillars are cost-efficiently integrated using twice cesium chloride (CsCl) islands lithography technique and dry etching for solar cell applications. The micro PMMA islands are fabricated by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) dry etching with micro CsCl islands as masks, and the nano CsCl islands with nano sizes then are made on the surface of micro PMMA islands and silicon. By ICP dry etching with the mask of micro PMMA islands and nano CsCl islands, the micro-nano silicon pillars are made and certain height micro pillars are randomly positioned between dense arrays of nano pillars with different morphologies by controlling etching conditions. With 300 nm depth p-n junction detected by secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), the micro pillars of the diameter about 1 μm form the core–shell p-n junction to maximize utility of p-n junction interface and enable efficient free carrier collection, and the nano tapered pillars of 150 nm diameter are used to decrease reflection by a graded-refractive-index. Compared to single micro or nano pillar arrayed cells, the co-integrated solar cell with micro and nano pillars demonstrates improved photovoltaic characteristic that is a photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.35 % with a short circuit current density (J _sc) of 38.40 mA/cm² and an open circuit voltage (V _oc) of 555.7 mV, which benefits from the advantages of micro-nano pillar structures and can be further improved upon process optimization.     

Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel state wetting transition: Scaling of the front velocity

We experimentally study the dynamics of water in the Cassie-Baxter state to Wenzel state transition on surfaces decorated with assemblies of micrometer-size square pillars arranged on a square lattice. The transition on the micro-patterned superhydrophobic polymer surfaces is followed with a high-speed camera. Detailed analysis of the movement of the liquid during this transition reveals the wetting front velocity dependence on the geometry and material properties. We show that a decrease in gap size as well as an increase in pillar height and intrinsic material hydrophobicity result in a lower front velocity. Scaling arguments based on balancing surface forces and viscous dissipation allow us to derive a relation with which we can rescale all experimentally measured front velocities, obtained for various pattern geometries and materials, on one single curve.     

液滴在梯度微结构表面上的铺展动力学分析

本文通过改变肋柱宽度和间距, 构造了二级和多级梯度微结构表面, 采用格子-Boltzmann方法对液滴在两种梯度表面上的铺展过程进行了研究, 探析液滴运动的机理和调控方法. 结果表明, 在改变肋柱间距的二级梯度表面上, 当液滴处于Cassie态时, 接触角滞后大小与粗糙度梯度成正比关系; 当液滴从Cassie态转换为Wenzel态或介于两者之间的不稳定态时, 这一正比关系不再遵循. 在改变肋柱宽度的二级梯度表面上, 接触角滞后大小与粗糙度梯度始终成正比关系. 在多级梯度表面上, 随液滴初始半径增大, 接触角滞后减小, 但液滴平衡位置相较于初始位置偏离增大. 对梯度微结构表面上液滴运动和接触角滞后的定量分析, 可为实现梯度微结构表面液滴运动调控提供理论依据.     

In situ TEM study of reversible and irreversible electroforming in Pt/Ti:NiO/Pt heterostructures

Experimental verification of the microscopic origin of resistance switching in metal/oxide/metal heterostructures is needed for applications in non‐volatile memory and neuromorphic computing. Numerous reports suggest that resistance switching in NiO is caused by local reduction of the oxide layer into nanoscale conducting filaments, but few reports have shown experimental evidence correlating electroforming with site‐specific changes in composition. We have investigated the mechanisms of reversible and irreversible electroforming in 250–500 nm wide pillars patterned from a single Ta/Ti/Pt/Ti‐doped NiO/Pt/Ta heterostructure and have shown that these can coexist within a single sample. We performed in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) electroform‐ ing and switching on each pillar to correlate the local electron transport behavior with microstructure and composition in each pillar. DFT calculations fitted to electron energy loss spectroscopy data showed that the Ti‐doped NiO layer is partially reduced after reversible electroforming, with the formation of oxygen vacancies ordered into lines in the 〈110〉 direction. However, under the same probing conditions, adjacent pillars show irreversible electroforming caused by electromigration of metallic Ta to form a single bridge across the oxide layer. We propose that the different electroforming behaviors are related to microstructural variations across the sample and may lead to switching variability. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Top-gathering pillar array of hybrid organic–inorganic material by means of self-organization

Two-dimensional (2D) pillar arrays with submicrometer to micrometer repetitions have been fabricated from hybrid organic–inorganic material by mask lithography or multi-beam interference lithography. The type of array structure depends on structural parameters such as the pillar height, diameter and distance between neighboring pillars. Two kinds of periodic arrays, 2D arrays and ‘top-gathering’ arrays, can be obtained by controlling the structural parameters. In the top-gathering arrays, the pillars are gathered at the top by means of self-organization, and ‘top-gathering’ units composed of four pillars can be formed. PACS 68.35.Gy; 81.20.Fw; 82.50.-m