Plasmonic Bragg reflectors based on metal-embedded MIM structure

We propose and investigate a metalembedded metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure plasmonic Bragg reflector (PBR) using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method with PMLs (perfectly matched layers) boundary conditions. It improves the performance of conventional step profile MIM PBRs to some extent. Our numerical study reveals that the metal-embedded PBRs exhibit lower insertion loss, narrower bandgap, and reduced rippling in the transmission spectrum when compared with the step PBRs at the same normalized index contrast and transmission levels. The defect mode of the metal-embedded PBRs also exhibits higher transmission. To suppress the sidelobes in the transmission spectrum, we further smooth the end of the embedded metal, which demonstrates a better performance. Then, we find with respect to the Bragg wavelength, the longer wavelengths have a tendency to spread in the wider regions of the insulator layer; however, the shorter wavelengths have a tendency to spread in the embedded metal regions. The apodized PBRs with the embedded metal length decreasing (increasing) efficaciously suppress the ripples at the right (left) band edges. Then, we use the impedance theoretical model to explain this phenomenon. Finally, we realize a flat-top transmission band filter by connecting two apodized PBRs, and the band and center wavelength can be adjusted.     

Engineered inorganic core/shell nanoparticles

It has been for a long time recognized that nanoparticles are of great scientific interest as they are effectively a bridge between bulk materials and atomic structures. At first, size effects occurring in single elements have been studied. More recently, progress in chemical and physical synthesis routes permitted the preparation of more complex structures. Such structures take advantages of new adjustable parameters including stoichiometry, chemical ordering, shape and segregation opening new fields with tailored materials for biology, mechanics, optics magnetism, chemistry catalysis, solar cells and microelectronics. Among them, core/shell structures are a particular class of nanoparticles made with an inorganic core and one or several inorganic shell layer(s). In earlier work, the shell was merely used as a protective coating for the core. More recently, it has been shown that it is possible to tune the physical properties in a larger range than that of each material taken separately. The goal of the present review is to discuss the basic properties of the different types of core/shell nanoparticles including a large variety of heterostructures. We restrict ourselves on all inorganic (on inorganic/inorganic) core/shell structures. In the light of recent developments, the applications of inorganic core/shell particles are found in many fields including biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. In addition to a representative overview of the properties, general concepts based on solid state physics are considered for material selection and for identifying criteria linking the core/shell structure and its resulting properties. Chemical and physical routes for the synthesis and specific methods for the study of core/shell nanoparticle are briefly discussed.     

A multiband absorber based on multipolar plasmon excitation

We report a multiband absorber with a top-layer grating structure based on the multipolar plasmon excitation. The simulation results show that the absorber has three distinctive absorption peaks originated from multipolar plasmon excitation at wavelengths λ = 0.576 μm, λ = 0.760 μm and λ = 5.630 μm with the absorption magnitudes more than 0.86, 0.96 and 0.99, respectively. The multipolar plasmon excitation can be described by surface plasmon standing waves.     

Resonance tuning and broadening of bowtie nanoantennas on graphene

Metallic bowtie antennas are used in nanophotonics applications in order to confine the electromagnetic field into volumes much smaller than that of the incident wavelength. Electrically controllable carrier concentration of graphene opens the door to the use of plasmonic nanoantenna structures with graphene so that the resonant nature of nanoantennas can be tuned. In this study, we demonstrated with the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method that the intensity and resonance peak of bowtie nanoantennas on monolayer graphene can be tuned at mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength regime by applying a gate voltage, since the optical properties of graphene change by changing the carrier concentration.     

Highly directional spaser array for the red wavelength region

The spaser offers an opportunity to achieve coherent optical sources at nanometer scales due to the extreme confinement of optical fields. However, achievement of spasers with directional propagation in the visible wavelength region remains a challenge thus far, owing to the unique optical feedback mechanism and large dissipative losses of the metal cavity. Here, we experimentally demonstrate for the first time a spaser showing highly directional emission in the visible by using a periodic subwavelength hole array perforated in a metal film, which function as plasmonic nanocavities, along with an organic laser dye to supply gain. The lasing occurs in the red wavelength region and shows a single mode. It is suggested that the optical feedback for spasing is provided by the SPP–Bloch wave, which is supported by the fact that no spasing was attained in aperiodic holes as well as in periodic holes that do not support the SPP–Bloch wave at the spasing wavelength.     

Light scattering on nanowire antennas: A semi-analytical approach

Two semi-analytical approaches to solve the problem of light scattering on nanowire antennas are developed and compared. The derivation is based on the exact solution of the plane wave scattering problem in case of an infinite cylinder. The original three-dimensional problem is reduced in two alternative ways to a simple one-dimensional integral equation, which can be solved numerically by a method of moments approach. Scattering cross sections of gold nanowire antennas with different lengths and aspect ratios are analyzed for the optical and near-infrared spectral range. Comparison of the proposed semi-analytical methods with the numerically rigorous discrete dipole approximation method demonstrates good agreement as well as superior numerical performance.     

Enhanced photoluminescence of conjugated polymer thin films on nanostructured silver

Photoluminescence of a conjugated polymer in the presence of surface plasmons on metallic nanoparticles is studied. A layered device structure was constructed that enabled control over nanoparticle diameter and separation between the polymer and nanoparticles layers. The dependence of the surface plasmon evanescent field and energy transfer has been investigated with the largest enhancement in photoluminescence observed at a 40 nm distance separation between the fluorophore and the surface plasmon. A spectrum of surface plasmon resonances ranging from the emission to the absorption energies of the conjugated polymer revealed largest enhancements when the resonance was tuned to the conjugated polymer emission energy. At peak photoluminescence the maximum photoluminescent enhancement was found to be 5.6 times of the photoluminescence of the control structure and the total integrated enhancement was 5.9 times.     

Study of interference in a double-slit without walls by plasmon tomography techniques

We investigate the free propagation of two parallel surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) beams using plasmon tomography. In the Fourier-plane images, we observed interference features that are not in correspondence with the images of SPPs on the sample's surface. We clearly observed that the interference maxima and minima are distributed over an arc of a circle. We explain the characteristics of the observed interference patterns assuming that each SPP beam can be considered as a “slit without walls”. We discuss important implications of this work for SPP tomography and interferometric plasmonic sensors.     

Steering the optical response with asymmetric bowtie 2-color controllers in the visible and near infrared range

We have proposed an asymmetric bowtie 2-color controller and analyzed its resonance frequency spectra and temporal responses. The results show improved optical properties of the asymmetric bowtie 2-color controller as compared to symmetric bowties. The improved optical properties are a broad bandwidth of the plasmonic spectrum consisting of two resonant peaks, a high field enhancement in the gap of the bowtie structure, and a large effective enhancement volume. The system might have applications in the generation of XUV light via high-harmonic generation as well as in ultrabroadband sensors and multicolor optoelectronic filters.