On the propagation characteristics of metal clad waveguides with a quantum well

The electromagnetic modes of planar metal clad dielectric waveguides containing an n-doped quantum well (QW) are studied theoretically. Special attention is paid on the coupling between metal surface plasmons and intersubband plasmons and the manifestation of this coupling in the propagation characteristics of metal/QW/dielectric and multimode metal/QW/dielectric/metal waveguide structures. The results obtained indicate that the modification of the propagation characteristic induced by the above-mentioned coupling is substantial only in the case of metal/QW/dielectric waveguide structures.     

Enhanced optical transmission through a subwavelength 1D aperture

We present finite difference time domain simulations of the enhancement of the optical transmission through a single subwavelength slit in a thick metal film caused by resonances of the electromagnetic fields in and near the slit. These can be enhanced by including a periodic modulation on the in-coupling surface, and the dependence of the transmission on the grating structural parameters is analysed in detail.     

Observation of two-photon coherence in plasmon-assisted transmission

We experimentally study two-photon coherence in plasmon-assisted transmission with a two-photon Mach–Zehnder (MZ) interferometer. Two collinear photons of identical or orthogonal polarization are simultaneously incident on one optically thick metal film, perforated with a periodic array of subwavelength holes. Interference fringes with two-photon de Broglie wavelength are observed, which indicates that the quantum coherence of biphoton is preserved in surface plasmon assisted transmission.     

Analytical Investigation of Transmission Properties of Metallic Gratings

We re-examine the classical one-dimensional transmission grating to explain the enhanced transmission in the surface impedance approximation. The nearly zero transmission and extraordinary transmission phenomena related to the surface plasmon are presented by analysing the scattering amplitude of waveguide mode at the output surface of grating. It is revealed that the transmission peaks are related to the Fabry-Perot factor and the interaction of surface plasmon and other diffractive orders.     

Surface plasmon polariton excitation and manipulation by nanoparticle arrays

Using a vectorial dipolar model for multiple surface plasmon-polariton (SPP) scattering [T. Søndergaard, S.I. Bozhevolnyi, Phys. Rev. B 67 (2003) 165405], we investigate the possibility of simultaneous SPP excitation and in-plane manipulation with square-lattice arrays of nanoparticles. The SPP excitation followed by focusing and/or waveguiding of SPP waves is observed with nanoparticle arrays of different shapes, demonstrating the feasibility of the suggested approach.     

Extraordinary Transmission through Metallic Grating with Subwavelength Slits for S-Polarization Illumination

Based on the rigorous coupled-wave analysis algorithm, we have systematically analysed the effect of the geometrical parameters of a dielectric film coated metallic grating with subwavelength slits on extraordinary optical transmission for s-polarization illumination. Results show that the dielectric film which sustains a waveguide electromagnetic mode on the top of the metallic lamellar grating can strongly enhance the transmittance, the positions of the transmission peaks are mainly determined by the period of the metallic grating, the thickness and refractive index of the dielectric film. This structure shows potential applications in excellent polarizers or polarization-isotropic devices at infrared spectral range by appropriately choosing the geometrical parameters.     

All-Optical Modulation with a Surface Plasmon Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

We use two parallel nano-slits in a silver film to form a surface plasmon Mach Zehnder interferometer （MZI）, based on the interference of two surface plasmon waves propagating along the two surfaces of the silver film. Coating the silver film with a photoinduced birefringence polymer film, we achieve optical modulation of the MZI output by changing the refractive index of the polymer film with a pump beam. An on/off ratio 0f 2. 7 is obtained for a probe wavelength of 865 nm.     

Modulation of Splitting Beam Angle with Metal--Nonlinear Optical Material--Metal (M-NL-M) Array Structure

We demonstrate active manipulating plasmonic signals with metal--nonlinear optical material--metal (M-NL-M) arrays consisting of slits with variant widths. The parameters of the M-NL-M array structure are derived by theoretical analysis of dispersion relationship. The splitting angle can be modulated by the incident light intensity, and verified by a nonlinear two-dimensional finite difference time domain method. The physical principle of this phenomenon is analysed from the phase of surface plasmon polaritons and Fabry--Pérot (F-P) resonance in slits     

Numerical Investigation of Surface Plasmons Associated Subwavelength Optical Single-Pass Effect

Surface plasmons （SPs） associated optical single-pass effect has been investigated in novel subwavelength metallic structures, including single slit and grating structures. With influence of SPs, these metallic structures can enhance transmission in incident direction and suppress it in the opposite direction, exhibiting a single-pass effect. The finite difference time domain method is employed to study the influences of structure parameters on far-field transmission, near-field electric field distribution and extinction ratio of the single-pass transmission effect. A maximal extinction ratio of 47.83dB is achieved in the grating structure.     

Reflection and refraction of the electromagnetic field in a semi-infinite plasma

We compute the reflected and refracted electromagnetic fields for an ideal semi-infinite (half-space) plasma, as well as the reflection coefficient, by using a general procedure based on equations of motion and electromagnetic potentials. The approach consists of representing the charge disturbances by a displacement field in the positions of the moving particles (electrons). The propagation of an electromagnetic wave in plasma is treated by means of the retarded electromagnetic potentials, and the resulting integral equations are solved. Generalized Fresnel’s relations are thereby obtained for any incidence angle and polarization and the angles of total polarization and total reflection are derived. Bulk and surface plasmon-polariton modes are identified. As it is well known, the field inside the plasma is either damped (evanescent) or propagating (transparency regime), and the reflection coefficient exhibits an abrupt enhancement on passing from the propagating regime to the damped one (total reflection).     

FDTD Studies of Metallic Cylinder Arrays： Plasmon Waveguide and Y-Splitter

The plasmon waveguide based on double chain of gold cylinders is studied using the finite-difference time-domain method （FDTD）. The wavelength of the incident Gaussian beam ranges from 650 to 1200nm, and the corresponding attenuation factors are calculated. We also present a Y-splitter with 90° splitting angle, each branch in the form of double chains. The transmission efficiencies for different wavelengths are evaluated.     

THz surface plasmon jump between two metal edges

We excite surface plasmon in the THz frequency range at a metal surface using a diffraction grating coupler. Then the excited surface plasmon propagates along the flat metal surface, scatters into free space at the sample edge and then couples onto the flat surface of a second device similar to the emitting one. Using THz time-domain spectroscopy, we study plasmon propagation and its coupling processes in time and frequency domains. We measure a surface plasmon propagation length, at a flat air-aluminum interface, smaller than expected. We report for the first time a high coupling efficiency of the THz surface plasmon field between the two grating devices separated by a several centimeters-thick air gap.     

Optically nonlinear phonon-polariton modes in a three-layered structure

A theory is presented for the propagation of phonon-polariton modes arising when phonons are coupled to electromagnetic waves in multilayered structures. A multi-layered structure consists of a thin film surrounded symmetrically by a bounding media. Numerical calculations are given for s-polarized phonon-polariton modes in the case where the bounding media are assumed to be semi-infinite layers with nonlinear dielectric functions of ionic crystal type supporting optical phonon modes and the thin film is characterized by a Kerr-type nonlinear dielectric function. The phonon-polaritons were found to have distinct branches characteristic of optical phonons and showing features that are different from those of plasmon-polaritons [S. Baher, M.G. Cottam, Surf. Rev. Lett. 10 (2003) 13]. The parameters that modify the modes are the in-plane wave vector, the thickness of the film, the phonon frequency and the nonlinearity of each layer. It was found that by increasing the film thickness and nonlinearity coefficient, the curves move to the left and the number of the branches increases without changing the pattern of the curves.     

Design of Highly Sensitive Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors Using Planar Metallic Films Closely Coupled to Nanogratings

We investigate the sensitivity enhancement of surface plasmon resonance （SPR） sensors using planar metallic films closely coupled to nanogratings. The strong coupling between localized surface plasmon resonances （LSPRs） presenting in metallic nanostructures and surface plasmon polaritons （SPPs） propagating at the metallic film surface leads to changes of resonance reflection properties, resulting in enhanced sensitivity of SPR sensors. The effects of thickness of the metallic films, grating period and metal materials on the refractive index sensitivity of the device are investigated. The refractive index sensitivity of nanograting-based SPR sensors is predicted to be about 543 nm/RIU （refractive index unit） using optimized structure parameters. Our study on SPR sensors using planar metallic films closely coupled to nanogratings demonstrates the potential for significant improvement in refractive index sensitivity.     

Ultrafast optical nonlinear properties of metal nanoparticles

The physical origin and the dynamics of the ultrafast optical nonlinear response of noble metal nanoparticles are analyzed around the surface plasmon resonance frequency using extension of the bulk metal electron kinetics and band structure models. The computed spectral and temporal responses are found to be in very good agreement with the measured ones in silver when taking into account the impact of electron excitation on both the interband absorption and electron optical scattering rate. A good reproduction of the strong excitation regime experimental results is also obtained in the case of gold, with a dominant contribution of the interband effect. Received: 4 July 2001 / Published online: 10 October 2001     

Plasmon resonances in a spherical sodium cluster and in a flat surface with a soft optical edge

Received: 27 August 1997/Revised version: 7 November 1997     

Desorption of metal atoms with laser light of different polarization

Laser-induced desorption of metal atoms from the surface of small metal particles has been investigated as a function of the shape of the particles and the polarization of the incident laser light. The particles were supported on LiF, quartz or sapphire substrates. In a first set of experiments, the shape of the particles was determined by recording optical transmission spectra with s- and p-polarized light incident under an angle of typically 40° with respect to the surface normal. The metal particles turn out to be oblate, the ratio of the axes perpendicular and parallel to the substrate surface being on the order of 0.5. This ratio decreases with increasing particle size. Also, the particles change shape if the temperature is raised. In further experiments, s- and p-polarized light has been used to stimulate desorption of atoms via surface plasmon excitation. It is found that the desorption rate markedly depends on the polarization of the light. This is explained by excitation of the collective electron oscillation along different axes of the non-spherical particles.     

Optical anisotropy and pinning of the linear polarization of light in semiconductor microcavities

We report strong experimental evidence of the optical anisotropy in a CdTe-based microcavity: the polarization of light is pinned to one of the crystallographic axes independently of the polarization of the excitation. The polarization degree depends strongly on the excitation power, reaching almost 100% in the stimulated regime. The relaxation time of the polarization is about 1 ns. We argue that all of this is an effect of a splitting of the polariton doublet at k=0. We consider different sources for the splitting and conclude that the most likely one is optical birefringence in the mirrors and/or the cavity.     

Kinetic Study on Channelling of Protons in Metallic Carbon Nanotubes

Based on the kinetic model and the dielectric response theory, a theoretical model is put forward to describe the transport of protons along nanotube axes. With the introduction of electron band structure for different nanotubes like zigzag and armchair nanotubes of metallic properties, the collective excitation of electrons on the cylinders induced by the incident ions is studied, showing several distinct peaks in the curves of the energy loss function. Furthermore, the stopping power and the self-energy are calculated as functions of ion velocities, especially taking into account the influence of damping coefficients. It is conceivable from the results that, in the kinetic formulation, plasmon excitation plays a major role in the stopping. And as the damping increases, the peaks of the stopping power shift to the lower velocities, with the broadening of the plasmon resonance.