Hybrid vertical directional coupling between a long range surface plasmon polariton waveguide and a dielectric waveguide

To investigate light coupling between a long range surface plasmon polariton (LRSPP) waveguide and a conventional integrated optical component, a hybrid vertical directional coupler consisting of a LRSPP waveguides and a dielectric waveguide is investigated and fabricated. In the proposed coupler the dielectric waveguide and LRSPP waveguide are vertically configured for dense integration and strong coupling. The characteristics of the even and odd super-modes of the coupler are also analyzed to design the device. The fabricated device exhibits damped sinusoidal behavior along the coupling length due to propagation loss of the LRSPP waveguide. The maximum power transfer of 86% from the LRSPP waveguide to the dielectric waveguide is achieved at the coupling length of 600 μm. The measured characteristics of the device are in relatively good agreement with a theoretical analysis.     

Long-Range Surface Plasmon Polaritons Guided by a Thin Metal Stripe

A long-range surface plasmon polariton （LRSPP） waveguide consisting of a 15nm thick gold stripe embedded in a homogeneous polymer BCB is reported. LRSPPs are excited by TM-mode input light successfully using an end-fire method. By scanning the output coupling fibre, the near field of the LRSPP is measured. The propagation loss of as low as 2.34 dB/mm is demonstrated.     

长程表面等离子体的增强效应

研究了双层金属薄膜构型中构型参数对长程表面等离子体的影响,并发现了衰减全反射激发方法下长程表面等离子体的增强效应.以特征矩阵算法为基础,通过数值计算构型的反射谱,研究构型参数的变化对反射谱的影响.发现由于衰减全反射激发方法中耦合器的存在导致的非对称特性,会使双层金属薄膜构型中的长程表面等离子体拥有本征模式特性以外的有趣特性,如长程模式得到增强而另一支受到抑制,从而使能量更为集中在希望被激发的一支.研究结果对非对称激发构型中的长程表面等离子体研究具有启发意义.     

Temperature dependence of symmetric and asymmetric structured Au stripe waveguides

The thermal effects on pigtailed 22-nm-thick, 5-μm-wide and 1-cm-long Au stripe long-range surface plasmon polariton (LRSPP) waveguides, embedded in polymer/polymer layers and in polymer/silica layers, are theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. The polymer and silica cladding layers have thermo-optic coefficients of opposite signs. As the temperature varies the Au stripe LRSPP waveguide embedded in the polymer/polymer layers retains its symmetry in the refractive index, but that embedded in the polymer/silica layers becomes asymmetric in the refractive index. The thermal sensitivity in the optical output power of the symmetric structure is smaller than 0.02 dB/°C but the sensitivity of the asymmetric structure is ∼ 0.3 dB/°C. These structures open up potential applications of the LRSPP waveguides for temperature independent/dependent photonic devices.     

Long-range dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polariton waveguides operating at telecommunication wavelengths

We report on the realization of long-range dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polariton waveguides (LR-DLSPPWs) consisting of straight and bent subwavelength dielectric ridges deposited on thin and narrow metal stripes supported by a dielectric buffer layer covering a low-index substrate. Using imaging with a near-field optical microscope and end-fire coupling with a tapered fiber connected to a tunable laser at telecommunication wavelengths (1425-1545?nm), we demonstrate low-loss (propagation length ～500?μm) and well-confined (mode width ～1?μm) LR-DLSPPW mode guiding and determine the propagation and bend loss.     

A hybrid long-range surface plasmon waveguide comprising a narrow metal stripe surrounded by the low-index dielectric regions

A novel hybrid long-range surface plasmon waveguide structure comprising a narrow metal stripe, two relative low-index dielectric regions and dielectric ridges is proposed and analyzed. With the dielectric ridges and the two relative low-index dielectric regions symmetrically distributed on both sides of the narrow metal stripe, a symmetric hybrid long range mode with low electromagnetic transmission loss and subwavelength scale confinement is achieved. By optimizing the parameters, the propagation length of the proposed waveguide is increased to over two times to that of the conventional symmetric dielectric loaded surface plasmon waveguide, but the mode size only increases about 20%. For this benefit, the hybrid long-range surface plasmons waveguide is a good candidate for realizing high density photonic integration circuits.     

Long-range surface plasmon polaritons with subwavelength mode expansion in an asymmetrical system

Long-range surface plasmon polariton (LRSPP) modes in an asymmetrical system, in which the thin metal film is sandwiched between a semi-infinite substrate and a high permittivity polymer film with a finite thickness, are theoretically calculated and analyzed. Due to the high permittivity of the polymer film, at proper polymer film thicknesses, the index-matching condition of the dielectrics at both sides of the metal can be satisfied for supporting LRSPP modes, and the electromagnetic field above the metal can be localized well. It is found that these LRSPP modes have both long propagation lengths and subwavelength mode expansion above the metal at the optimal polymer film thicknesses. Furthermore, the requirements on the refractive index and the thickness of the polymer film to support LRSPP modes at the optimal thicknesses are found to be not critical.     

Plasmon modes of a superlattice — Classical vs quantum limits

The collective plasmon excitations of a superlattice are investigated in both the classical and quantum limits. Using a model that is applicable to superlattices whose constituent layers are either semiconductor- semiconductor, semiconductor-metal, or metal-metal, we show that the surface plasmon interface modes of each layer (slab) couple via the long range Coulomb interaction into two bands of plasmons with dispersion along the superlattice axis. Results for plasmon dispersion are presented for the classical limit (de Broglie wavelength less than the layer width) where the response is treated via a solution of Maxwell's equations using the bulk 3-D dielectric constant to describe each intervening layer. These results are compared to the plasmon dispersion in the quantum regime where the wave-vector frequency dependent dielectric constant of the superlattice is calculated taking into account quantization effects (subband structure). The relationship between the modes in both limits is derived.     

Three dimensional anisotropic κ spectra of turbulence at subproton scales in the solar wind

We show the first three dimensional (3D) dispersion relations and k spectra of magnetic turbulence in the solar wind at subproton scales. We used the Cluster data with short separations and applied the k-filtering technique to the frequency range where the transition to subproton scales occurs. We show that the cascade is carried by highly oblique kinetic Alfvén waves with ω(plas) ≤ 0.1ω(ci) down to k(⊥) ρ(i)～2. Each k spectrum in the direction perpendicular to B0 shows two scaling ranges separated by a breakpoint (in the interval [0.4,1]k(⊥)ρ(i): a Kolmogorov scaling k(⊥)?1?? followed by a steeper scaling ～k(⊥)????. We conjecture that the turbulence undergoes a transition range, where part of the energy is dissipated into proton heating via Landau damping and the remaining energy cascades down to electron scales where electron Landau damping may predominate.     

Quantum fluctuations of the refractive index near the interface between a metal and a nonlinear dielectric

Zero-point fluctuations of surface plasmon modes near the interface between a metal and a nonlinear dielectric are shown to produce a thin layer of shifted fluctuating dielectric constant near the interface. The shift of the dielectric constant in this layer may be sufficiently large to produce multiple metastable states of the surface plasmon vacuum.     

Long range surface plasmon polariton waveguides at 1.31 and 1.55 μm wavelengths

We investigate characteristics of gold metal strip waveguides based on long range surface plasmon polaritons (LRSPPs) along thin metal strips embedded in a polymer for practical applications at the telecommunication wavelengths of 1.31 and 1.55 μm. Guiding properties of the gold strip waveguides are theoretically and experimentally evaluated with the limited thickness and width up to ∼20 nm and ∼10 μm, respectively. The lowest propagation loss of ∼1.4 dB/cm is obtained with a 14.5-nm-thick and 2-μm-wide gold strip at 1.55 μm. With a single-mode fiber, the lowest coupling loss of ∼0.4 dB/facet is achieved with a 14.5-nm-thick and 5-μm-wide gold strip at 1.55 μm. The lowest insertion losses are obtained 8-9 dB with 1.5 cm-long gold strips of a limited thickness and width at both the wavelengths. We demonstrate a 10 Gbps optical signal transmission via the LRSPP waveguide with a 14 nm-thick, 2.5 μm-wide, and 4 cm-long gold strip. These LRSPP waveguides have potential applications for optical interconnects and communications.     

Light-induced changes of the refractive indices in a colloid of gold nanoparticles in a nematic liquid crystal

It was shown that irradiation of a nematic liquid crystal doped with metal nanoparticles in the visible near the plasmon resonance band led to strong thermal changes of the refractive indices. The effect was studied by recording of dynamic optical gratings in the colloid. Nanoparticles "worked" as effective nano-heaters in a matrix causing the order parameter decrease around the particles. A large nonlinearity parameter (n (2) ≈ 10(-2) cm(2)/kW and fast response (≈ 0.7 ms), with no detectable particles' aggregation and excellent photo- thermo-stability make these colloids potentially attractive nonlinear optical media. Application of a dynamic holography technique allowed measuring the coefficients of thermal conductivity of the liquid crystal along the director k (||) = (0.4 ± 0.02) W m(-1)K(-1) and perpendicular to the director k (⊥) = (0.2 ± 0.01) W m(-1)K(-1).     

介质保护膜在表面等离子体波探测器中的应用研究

基于表面等离子体波共振技术的探测器中金属膜通常与被探测物直接接触,在金属膜和被探测物之间增加一层介质膜,可以对金属膜进行保护.为了优化探测器的设计,通过对四层共振结构中表面等离子体波共振吸收峰随保护层厚度及其介电常数变化的计算,得到了对保护层参量的选择条件.     

Dielectric layer-dependent surface plasmon effect of metallic nanoparticles on silicon substrate

The electromagnetic interaction between Ag nanoparticles on the top of the Si substrate and the incident light has been studied by numerical simulations. It is found that the presence of dielectric layers with different thicknesses leads to the varied resonance wavelength and scattering cross section and consequently the shifted photocurrent response for all wavelengths. These different behaviours are determined by whether the dielectric layer is beyond the domain where the elcetric field of metallic plasmons takes effect, combined with the effect of geometrical optics. It is revealed that for particles of a certain size, an appropriate dielectric thickness is desirable to achieve the best absorption. For a certain thickness of spacer, an appropriate granular size is also desirable. These observations have substantial applications for the optimization of surface plasmon enhanced silicon solar cells.     

基于表面等离子体激元效应的可调制滤波器

针对常用的光学滤波器滤波波长不可变的特点,提出一种利用表面等离子体激元效应实现可调制滤波的方法.该方法根据金属邻近电介质的介电常数发生改变时,金属与入射光波的表面等离子体激元耦合共振模式发生改变,以此实现滤波波长调制.在加工有亚波长纳米孔阵列的Au薄膜上制作了一可见光滤波器,实验中采用空气、酒精和油作为介质对器件进行调制.结果表明:相对于常用的光学滤波器,该器件由于可以方便地改变临近介质的介电常数,因此具有滤波波长连续可调、快速方便、波长变化精度高等特点.     

Long-range propagation of plasmon polaritons in a thin metal film on a one-dimensional photonic crystal surface

We present experimental results on ultralong-range surface plasmon polaritons, propagating in a thin metal film on a one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystal surface over a distance of several millimeters. This propagation length is about 2 orders of magnitude higher than the one in the ordinary Kretschmann configuration at the same optical frequency. We show that a long-range surface plasmon polaritons propagation may take place not only in a (quasi)symmetrical scheme, where a thin metal film is located between two media with (approximately) the same refraction index, but also in a scheme where the thin metal film is located between an appropriate 1D photonic crystal and an arbitrary (air, water, etc.) medium. The ultralong-range surface plasmon polaritons are potentially important for biosensors, plasmonics, and other applications.     

各向异性特异材料波导中表面等离子体的共振性质

使用时域有限差分法,研究了各向异性特异材料(AMM)作为包层的AMM/介质/AMM波导中表面等离子体的共振性质.色散关系表明,当特异材料为负磁导率的always-cutoff型时,AMM/介质/AMM波导支持TE极化的表面等离子体,表面等离子体的波长随着中间介质层的厚度和特异材料磁等离子体频率的减小而变短.在有限长度AMM/介质/AMM波导中,由于两端界面的反射,表面等离子体模在波导中形成Fabry-Perot共振,而实现亚波长的表面等离子体微腔.在共振频率,电场强度在微腔的中部达到最大值,而磁场分别在两端界面处达到最大,电磁能强局域在中间介质层中,这一性质将在可调的具有强局域特性的亚波长微腔及腔量子电动力学中具有潜在的应用.     

3D multiple optical trapping of Au-nanoparticles and prokaryote <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> using intra-cavity generated non-circular beam of inhomogeneous intensity

We report 3D multiple trapping of dielectric polystyrene (PS) beads and gold nano-particles (GNPs) in single beam optical tweezers system using an asymmetric beam of inhomogeneous intensity distribution. This special kind of beam of quasi-TEM₁₁ profile was generated from intra-cavity CW-laser source operating at 532 nm. Multiple trapping of both the low refractive index rod-like Escherichia coli bacteria and 253 nm plasmonic GNPs dispersed in 1.025 μm PS beads which were homogenized in de-ionized water was realized utilizing this spatial beam. Laser-GNPs interaction rendered the enhancement of local surface plasmon resonance field around GNPs causing long-range aggregation of PS beads. The multiple trapping of plasmonic GNPs by the present simple method might find applications for micro- and nano-connectors, underlying physical processes in light-matter interaction assays for inter-particle force analysis, cancer diagnostic and photothermolysis, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy, and surface plasmon based biological and chemical sensors.     

Symmetric surface plasmon resonance sensing structure excited by a planar waveguide

In this paper, we describe a novel waveguide surface plasmon resonance sensing structure, which consists of a symmetric structure and a planar waveguide. The core component is the symmetric structure of the metal layer, tested sample, and metal layer. The refractive index matching condition of this structure can be adjusted through the thickness of the sample. The planar waveguide is used to excite the surface plasmon wave, and then the parameters are tested and analyzed. The surface plasmon wave is excited when glycerin solutions with concentrations of 0%–70% are used to detect at thicknesses of 300 and 500 nm. The problem that the effective refractive index of the ion exchange planar waveguide is large and using this index to excite the surface plasmon wave between the metal and dielectric for detection is difficult to achieve can be countered by appropriately choosing the thickness of the dielectric in order to be able to measure different refractive indices.     

Novel electrostatic attraction from plasmon fluctuations

In this Letter, we show that, at low temperatures, zero-point fluctuations of the plasmon modes of two mutually coupled 2D planar Wigner crystals give rise to a novel long-range attractive force. For the case where the distance d between two planar surfaces is large, this attractive force has an unusual power-law decay, which scales as d(-7/2), unlike other fluctuation-induced forces. Specifically, we note that its range is longer than the "standard" zero-temperature van der Waals interaction. This result may, in principle, be observed in bilayer electronic systems and provides insight into the nature of correlation effects for highly charged surfaces.