Three-dimensional subwavelength imaging by a photonic-crystal flat lens using negative refraction at microwave frequencies

We experimentally demonstrate subwavelength resolution imaging at microwave frequencies by a three-dimensional (3D) photonic-crystal flat lens using full 3D negative refraction. The photonic crystal was fabricated in a layer-by-layer process. A subwavelength pinhole source and a dipole detector were employed for the measurement. By point-by-point scanning, we obtained the image of the pinhole source shown in both amplitude and phase, which demonstrated the imaging mechanism and subwavelength feature size in all three dimensions. An image of two pinhole sources with subwavelength spacing showed two resolved spots, which further verified subwavelength resolution.     

Reflective silicon binary diffraction grating for visible wavelengths

We introduce a device based on subwavelength resonant grating technology. Using a single lithography step we built a reflective binary grating that mimics the functionality of a blazed diffraction grating in a flat geometry. We have also demonstrated that efficient subwavelength resonant devices for visible wavelengths can be built using silicon.     

Subwavelength Hyperlens Resolution With Perfect Contrast Function

Recently it has been shown that plasmonic effects in hyperbolic metamaterials may facilitate overcoming the diffraction limit and enhance the contrast function of an image by filtering background radiation. Unfortunately, the contrast function of such a dark‐field hyperlens degrades in the deep‐subwavelength regime. We push forward the concept of the contrast function revival in the subwavelength imaging by introduction of the proper phase difference between coherent sources. To study this effect we develop a simplified theory of the wave propagation through a hyperbolic metamaterial and show that, in principle, two sources standing apart at any subwavelength distance can be distinguished. We suggest two feasible designs, the first of which employs the obliquely incident light, while the second one is based on a properly designed metasurface. The concept can be used in high‐contrast subwavelength microscopy.     

Broadband and polarization-insensitive subwavelength grating reflector for the near-infrared region

We propose a polarization-insensitive and broadband subwavelength grating reflector based on a multilayer structure.The reflector has an overlapped high reflectivity(99.5%) bandwidth of 248 nm between the TE and the TM polarizations,which is much higher than the previously reported results.We believe this subwavelength grating reflector can be applied to unpolarized devices.     

Hydrophobic and antireflective characteristics of thermally oxidized periodic Si surface nanostructures

We reported the antireflective properties of periodic silicon (Si) subwavelength gratings and flat substrates in combination with thermal oxidation for an effective surface passivation. Moreover, theoretical calculations and analysis based on rigorous coupled-wave analysis simulation were performed. For thermally oxidized Si subwavelength grating structures, the reflectance was significantly reduced compared to that of the thermally oxidized flat Si substrates in wide ranges of wavelengths and angles of incidence. As the oxidation time increased, the reflectance became lower with increasing SiO _x thickness on Si subwavelength gratings due to the more graded effective refractive index profile from air to the Si via the thermally oxidized Si subwavelength gratings with increased height. By incorporating a thermal oxidation process into the Si subwavelength gratings, a more hydrophobic surface with good surface passivation was obtained.     

Nonreciprocal reflection of a subwavelength hole array

We present measurements of the wavelength-dependent reflectivity of a subwavelength metal hole array on a glass substrate. We compare the observed resonant structures with those found in transmission and note a nonreciprocity under illumination from the air versus the glass side. This can be used to verify on which interface the surface plasmons are resonantly excited and to estimate the losses in the subwavelength channels.     

Sub-diffraction-limited far-field imaging in infrared

We investigated a far-field superlens operating at mid-infrared wavelength that allows resolving subwavelength features in the far-field. By utilizing evanescent enhancement provided by surface plasmon excitation of silver nanorods and Moiré effect, we numerically demonstrated that subwavelength information of an object can be converted to propagating information. This information can then be captured by conventional optical components. A simple image reconstruction algorithm can restore the subwavelength object. A sub-diffraction-limited resolution of 2.5 μm at 6-μm wavelength is demonstrated.     

Controlling strong electromagnetic fields at subwavelength scales

We investigate the optical response of two subwavelength grooves on a metallic screen, separated by a subwavelength distance. We show that the cavity, Fabry-Perot-like mode, already observed in one-dimensional periodic gratings and known for a single slit, splits into two resonances in our system: a symmetric mode with a small Q factor, and an antisymmetric one which leads to a much stronger field enhancement. This behavior results from the near-field coupling of the grooves. Moreover, the use of a second incident wave allows control of the localization of the photons in the groove of our choice, depending on the phase difference between the two incident waves. The system acts exactly as a subwavelength optical switch operated from far field.     

Area-coded effective medium structures, a new type of grating design

We propose a new way to design gratings with desired diffraction properties by using subwavelength feature sizes perpendicular to the ordinary superwavelength grating period. This is different from well-known one-dimensional binary-blazed gratings that use a structuring along the grating period and thus opens new flexibility in generating arbitrary effective-index distributions in the direction of the grating period. Since the subwavelength features form contiguous areas, they are called area-coded effective medium structures (ACES). Compared with well-known binary subwavelength structures in two-dimensional arrangements consisting of pillars, ACES are more stable and have comparable efficiency properties. As an example we show how to design in principle a four-level area-coded effective medium grating, compare the efficiency of ACES with binary-blazed and échelette gratings, and optimize the subwavelength period of ACES.     

Near-field Moiré effect mediated by surface plasmon polariton excitation

We have demonstrated a surface plasmon polariton mediated optical Moiré effect by inserting a silver slab between two subwavelength gratings. Enhancement of the evanescent fields by the surface plasmon excitations on the silver slab leads to a remarkable contrast improvement in the Moiré fringes from two subwavelength gratings. Numerical calculations, which agree very well with the experimental observation of evanescent-wave Moiré fringes, elucidate the crucial role of the surface plasmon polaritons. The near-field Moiré effect has potential applications to extend the existing Moiré techniques to subwavelength characterization of nanostructures.     

Near-field observation of subwavelength confinement of photoluminescence by a photonic crystal microcavity

We present a direct, room-temperature near-field optical study of light confinement by a subwavelength defect microcavity in a photonic crystal slab containing quantum-well sources. The observations are compared with three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain calculations, and excellent agreement is found. Moreover, we use a subwavelength cavity to study the influence of a near-field probe on the imaging of localized optical modes.     

Polarization-independent grating couplers for silicon-on-insulator nanophotonic waveguides

We propose the use of subwavelength structures in a waveguide grating to achieve polarization-independent coupling of light between an optical fiber and a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) optical waveguide. The subwavelength structure allows the mode effective indices of the TE and TM modes in the grating section to be precisely engineered. We calculate that coupling efficiency of over 64% is possible using the proposed design for polarization-independent coupling between single-mode optical fibers and SOI nanophotonic waveguides.     

Multiband Terahertz Photonic Band Gaps of Subwavelength Planar Fractals

Optical transmission properties of subwavelength planar fractals in terahertz （THz） frequency regime are studied by means of time-domain spectroscopy. The transmission spectra with multiple pass bands and stop bands are observed. The tunable photonic band gaps are realized by changing the angle between the principle axis of planar fractal and the polarization of THz wave. The possible application of the subwavelength optical component is discussed. We attribute the detected transmittance from subwavelength fractals to localized resonances.     

THz波段亚波长半导体球形阵列光学特性的数值模拟

利用T-matrix方法对太赫兹波段亚波长半导体球形阵列进行了数值模拟并在数值模拟结果的基础上讨论了其光学特性。在太赫兹波段可以通过掺杂等手段调节半导体的表面等离子体特性。以半导体InSb为例并采用Drude模型,对单个亚波长球及两个或多个亚波长球组成的阵列进行了数值模拟,主要以归一化消光截面为参数,讨论了不同阵元半径、不同球形单元间距、不同单元数目及入射波不同极化方向对阵列特性的影响。     

Subwavelength imaging enhancement through a three-dimensional plasmon superlens with rough surface

In this Letter we investigate the subwavelength imaging of a three-dimensional plasmon superlens based on the full vector wave simulations of optical wave propagation and transmission. The optical transfer functions are computed. Comparisons are made between the results of lenses with flat and periodic/random rough surfaces. We also study the problem of practical imaging system geometry using laser as an illumination source. Results show that the lens with periodic or random roughness can reduce the field interference effects, and provide improved focus on the transmission field and the Poynting flux. We illustrate that the subwavelength roughness in a plasmon lens can enhance the image resolution over a flat lens for both matched and unmatched permittivity conditions. The enhancement of resolution occurs because the introduced subwavelength roughness can amplify the evanescent wave components and suppress the surface plasmon resonance peaks.     

Absorption enhancement of 980 nm MSM photodetector with a plasmonic grating structure

We present finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation to analyze the optical absorption enhancement of metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors employing plasmonic grating structures. Simulation results show that the combination of a subwavelength aperture and a nano-structured metal grating results in up to 16 times enhancement in optical absorption, in comparison to conventional MSM photodetector structures employing only a subwavelength aperture.     

Sub-diffraction-limited far-field imaging in infrared

We investigated a far-field superlens operating at mid-infrared wavelength that allows resolving subwavelength features in the far-field. By utilizing evanescent enhancement provided by surface plasmon excitation of silver nanorods and Moiré effect, we numerically demonstrated that subwavelength information of an object can be converted to propagating information. This information can then be captured by conventional optical components. A simple image reconstruction algorithm can restore the subwavelength object. A sub-diffraction-limited resolution of 2.5 μm at 6-μm wavelength is demonstrated.     

Local infrared microspectroscopy with subwavelength spatial resolution with an atomic force microscope tip used as a photothermal sensor

We describe a new method of infrared microspectroscopy. It is intended for performing chemical mapping of various objects with subwavelength lateral resolution by using the infrared vibrational signature characterizing different molecular species. We use the photothermal expansion effect, detected by an atomic force microscope tip, probing the local transient deformation induced by an infrared pulsed laser tuned at a sample absorbing wavelength. We show that this new tool opens the way for measuring and identifying spectroscopic contrasts not accessible by far-field or near-field optical methods and with a subwavelength lateral resolution.     

Calculation of Diffraction Characteristics of Sub wavelength Conducting Gratings Using a High Accuracy Nonstandard Finite-Difference Time-Domain Method

Gratings with subwavelength groove depth and period are frequently used in optics for various purposes. The polarization dependent diffraction characteristics of subwavelength (high frequency) gratings can only be calculated by solving Maxwell’s equations of electromagnetism. In this paper, we calculate the classical diffraction characteristics of subwavelength conducting gratings numerically, using a new high accuracy version of nonstandard finite-difference time-domain (NS-FDTD) algorithm. For the purpose of analysis, we employ a gold sinusoidal grating with light incident at a large angle. We have compared high accuracy NS-FDTD simulation results with those obtained from standard finite-difference time-domain (S-FDTD), and the finite element method (FEM) simulations.     

Subwavelength structures for high power laser antireflection application on fused silica by one-step reactive ion etching

In this paper we report a simple method to fabricate a novel subwavelength structure surface on fused silica substrate using one-step reactive ion etching with two-dimensional polystyrene colloidal crystals as masks. The etching process and the morphologies of the obtained structure are controlled. We show that the period of the obtained fused silica pillar-like arrays were determined by the initial polystyrene nanoparticle size. The height of pillar arrays can be adjusted by controlling the etching duration, which is proved to be of importance in tailoring the antireflection properties of subwavelength structures surface. The novel subwavelength structures surface exhibit excellent broadband antireflection properties, but the size of the pillar affects the antireflective properties in short wavelength region. We anticipate this method would offer a convenient and scalable way for inexpensive and high-efficiency high power laser field designs.