Simulation investigation on waveguide properties of terahertz wave through subwavelength semiconductor gap

The waveguide propagation properties of terahertz wave through subwavelength semiconductor trench have been simulationally investigated. The effects of gap width, temperature, doping concentration and dielectric filling materials on waveguide property have been given and discussed. The results show that as temperature and doping concentration increases, the skin depth and the propagation constant decreases. In addition, the effective index increases and the propagation length decreases as the dielectric constant of filling materials increases.     

1D Bessel-like beam generation by highly directive transmission through a sub-wavelength slit embedded in periodic metallic grooves

A new method to generate a quasi-one dimensional (1D) Bessel-like beam whose non-diffracting length extends to macroscopic scale is proposed by utilizing highly directive transmission through a sub-wavelength single slit embedded in periodic metallic grooves. We employed finite-difference time-domain methods for full-vectorial diffraction and spectral analysis. In optimal conditions, unique quasi-1D Bessel-like beams were generated in transmission for the incident p-polarized plane wave such that highly asymmetric far-field distribution was achieved; Bessel-like beam along the slit axis and a flat-top super-Gaussian beam along the other perpendicular axis. Detailed parametric studies for the proposed structure are reported in terms of the operating spectral range and a general window of optimal conditions.     

Beam focusing through a tapered subwavelength aperture surrounded by dielectric surface gratings

A novel plasmonic nanolens formed by a tapered subwavelength metal slit surrounded by surface dielectric gratings is proposed and demonstrated numerically. By patterning surface corrugations on the output surface, the beam can be focused, by regulating the aperture, the focal length can be controlled effectively. Numerical simulations using Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method coupled with anisotropic perfectly matched layer (APML) boundary conditions verify that the proposed metallic lens can focus the radiation on the scale of a wavelength below the substrate and the method is effective for the design of nano-optical devices such as optical microprobes.     

Localized surface plasmons-based transmission enhancement of terahertz radiation through metal aperture arrays

The extraordinary transmission spectrum of a copper film pierced by a periodic array of subwavelength rectangular holes is measured by the terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The transmission coefficient is strongly dependent on the angle between the polarization of terahertz electric field and the latitudinal direction of the periodic apertures. When the angle increases from 0^o to 90^o, a peak becomes stronger and another peak reduces. The transmission is proposed to be the contributions of localized surface plasmons inside the apertures. The finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulation results are in good agreement with experimental observations.     

Control the polarization state of light with symmetry-broken metallic metastructures

Controlling the polarization state, the transmission direction, the amplitude and the phase of light in a very limited space is essential for the development of on-chip photonics. Over the past decades, numerous sub-wavelength metallic microstructures have been proposed and fabricated to fulfill these demands. In this article, we review our efforts in achieving negative refractive index, controlling the polarization state, and tuning the amplitude of light with two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) microstructures. We designed an assembly of stacked metallic U-shaped resonators that allow achieving negative refraction for pure magnetic and electric responses respectively at the same frequency by selecting the polarization of incident light. Based on this, we tune the permittivity and permeability of the structure, and achieve negative refractive index. Further, by control the excitation and radiation of surface electric current on a number of 2D and 3D asymmetric metallic metastructures, we are able to control the polarization state of light. It is also demonstrated that with a stereostructured metal film, the whole metal surfaces can be used to construct either polarization-sensitive or polarization-insensitive prefect absorbers, with the advantage of efficient heat dissipation and electric conductivity. Our practice shows that metamaterials, including metasurface, indeed help to master light in nanoscale, and are promising in the development of new generation of photonics.     

Dye assisted enhanced transmission in near field optical lithography

Surface plasmon lithography using embedded-amplitude masks has received considerable attention in recent times for its ability to produce high density features with resolution beyond diffraction limit. However plasmon damping caused due to intrinsic metal absorption restricts the achievable aspect ratio of the fabricated features. One possible way to rectify this issue is to use a gain medium to amplify the surface plasmons and thereby increase their propagation length. In this context this paper proposes a novel concept of employing dye medium to enhance plasmon propagation in mask based surface plasmon lithography, so as to obtain higher transmission depth in the writing medium. The proposed concept is supported by numerical simulations and the results obtained indicate a 14.5 fold field enhancement in presence of dye (gain) medium.     

Optical transmission through metal/dielectric multilayer films perforated with periodic subwavelength slits

The transmission of p-polarized plane wave through Ag/SiO₂ multilayer films perforated with periodic subwavelength air slits is investigated by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The results show that the optical transmission property is mediated by the interference among the propagating coupled-SPP modes along the lateral direction inside the SiO₂ layers and the conditions of Fabry-Pérot-like resonance along the longitudinal direction together. When some geometric parameters are suitably initialized, the high transmission peaks can split into more peaks as the functional layer (metal/dielectric/metal sandwich stack) number increases, and the wavelength of the same-order transmission peak exhibits a red shift as the grating period increases.     

Design and analysis of a gallium lanthanum sulfide based nanoplasmonic coupler yielding 67% efficiency

In this paper, we propose a novel ultra-compact nanoplasmonic coupler using gallium lanthanum sulfide (GLS) which yields an efficiency of 67% at the optical communication wavelength. The analysis has been done numerically using the finite-difference time-domain method. Our proposed coupler can operate at a broad frequency range and easier to fabricate than couplers with multi-section tappers since it is a simple rectangular-shaped coupler with no variation along the whole length.     

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.     

Critical process of extraordinary optical transmission through periodic subwavelength hole array: Hole-assisted evanescent-field coupling

We present a new explanation of the extraordinary optical transmission through subwavelength hole array in metal films. By using the classical coupled-wave theory, we analyzed the coupling process between light and the surface plasmons wave on metal films with hole array. The analysis shows clearly the physical mechanism of extraordinary optical transmission. The calculation demonstrates that, instead of energy flux directly passing through the holes, the electromagnetic modes could exchange energy by overlapping the evanescent fields under the assistance of hole array. The periodicity of the array provides the momentum-matching condition to present the transmission peaks. The theory exhibits a good agreement with the experimental results reported in every detail.     

Classifying the transmission resonances of a subwavelength aperture within a thin metallic film by breaking the symmetry

Here by introducing an I-shape structure to break the symmetry of a thin metallic film, the contributions of Fabry–Perot (FP) resonance-like modes and surface plasmon polariton (SPP) resonance-like are determined. The finite difference-time domain (FDTD) simulation is utilized to provide a clear picture of the electromagnetic field distribution and transmission profile. The FP matrix method is employed to specify the contribution of FP resonance. Some of the predicted resonances of the FP matrix method coincide with the simulation result which is labeled as FP resonance-like modes. The remaining resonance modes in transmission profile are considered as SPP resonance-like modes. Our results provide explicit evidence that both FP resonator modes and SPP resonance are responsible for extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) through a subwavelength aperture.     

Beaming of light through depth-tuned plasmonic nanostructures

A nanostructure comprising dielectric/Ag interface with central slit surrounded by grooves is presented for beam focusing and collimating. Desired phase retardations of the beam emerging through slits are manipulated by tuning the depth of grooves. Numerical simulations are performed through a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm. Results reveal the suitability of parabolic depth-tuned structure for enhanced transmission and beam collimation. Enhanced transmission and beam collimation are the result of transportation of electromagnetic energy in the form of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waves.     

Outcoupling surface plasmons into propagation modes using a subwavelength dielectric grating for device applications

Coupling of surface plasmon polaritons to radiation modes by use of a one-dimensional subwavelength dielectric grating on a thin metal slab is discussed. The surface plasmon waves obtained in Kretschmann configuration are resonant outcoupled to radiation modes by using a subwavelength dielectric grating. A peak outcoupling efficiency is predicted to be 74.57% with rigorous coupled-wave analysis. In addition, potential applications of these results in the design and improvement of various optoelectronic devices, such as polarizers, wavelength filters and biochemical sensors are discussed.     

Resonantly enhanced transmission of light through subwavelength apertures with dielectric filling

Using both analytical and numerical methods to study transmission of light through dielectric-filled subwavelength apertures in a real metal, we have found that a propagating mode can in principle exist inside a waveguide of arbitrary small size if a particular relationship between the dielectric constants of the cladding and filling materials at the incident frequency is satisfied. Practical transmission through a subwavelength aperture of finite depth can be enhanced when the depth is such that Fabry-Pérot-like resonances are excited. For 810 nm light incident on a silicon-filled 50-nm-diameter aperture in a 200-nm-thick gold film, we found that a normalized near-field intensity ratio of 1.6 at the exit can be achieved. This resonantly enhanced transmission phenomenon may be advantageously applicable to near-field scanning optical microscopy and single-molecule spectroscopy.     

Transmission properties of periodically patterned triangular prisms

Transmission properties of plasmonic structure arrays are simulated by finite element method. The array unit is composed of two combined triangular prisms. Results reveal that several resonant modes are found in the transmission spectra, which are due to the resonance of the surface plasmon polariton in the metal slit or to the localized surface plasmon resonance of the combined prisms. The resonant wavelengths can be tuned by changing the structural parameters of the combined prisms. In addition, the resonant modes are sensitive to small refractive index changes of the surrounding media, revealing potential detection applications in nanophotonic systems.     

金属薄膜亚波长微结构的光束集束器件设计

利用时域有限差分方法,模拟了P偏振光高斯光束入射到金属银亚波长细缝与光栅结构的透射情况.由于表面等离子激元波的影响,对称光栅结构透射光呈现对称出射,而非对称结构可以实现小角度定方向的光束集束现象.借助公式推导法及Helmholtz互易定理,可设计出平行入射P偏振光的光束集束器件.由于高斯光束本身的发散性及近场分布的需要,针对高斯光束的器件在结构参量上缩小了12%.在对其他结构参量的优化的基础上,实现了针对633 nm高斯光束的对称出射及光束集束器件的设计.     

气体压强及表面等离激元影响表面波等离子体电离发展过程的粒子模拟

基于表面等离激元 (SPP) 的表面波等离子体 (SWP) 源, 具有高密度、低温度及高产率等优异性能, 其应用在电子器件微纳加工、材料改性等领域. 但由于SPP激励SWP放电的电离过程难于用理论分析和实验测量描述, 因而SWP源均匀稳定产生的电离发展过程一直未研究清晰. 本文以SWP放电的数值模拟为研究手段, 采用等离子体与电磁波相互作用的粒子模拟 (PIC) 方法, 结合蒙特卡罗碰撞 (MCC) 方法处理碰撞效应的优势, 研究气体压强影响电离过程的电磁能量耦合机理. 模拟结果表明SWP的高效产生是SPP的局域增强电场致使, 气体压强能够改变波模共振转换的出现时刻而影响了SWP的电离发展过程. 本文的研究成果展示了SPP维持SWP放电的电离过程, 可为下一代米级SWP源的参数优化提供设计建议. 关键词： 表面波等离子体 表面等离激元 粒子模拟 电离过程     

Simulation study of ‘perfect lens’ for near-field nanolithography

The near-field perfect lens (NFPL) in imaging chrome gratings is investigated by using finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The surface plasmon focused effect in and beneath the NFPL layer is demonstrated. The effects of the grating parameters and NFPL permittivity on image fidelity are explored. It is found that the excitation of surface plasmons results in frequency-increased images at large duty cycles and small imaginary part of NFPL permittivities. It is also shown that maximum intensity distributions on image plane occur at some specified pitches and duty cycles. The physics mechanisms are presented to explain these phenomena.     

Optimization of the synthesis parameters of high surface area ceria nanopowder prepared by surfactant assisted precipitation method

Response surface methodology (RSM) has been used to optimize the critical parameters responsible for higher surface area of ceria nanopowder prepared by surfactant assisted precipitation method. A three-level central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize pH, CTAB/metal molar ratio and calcination temperature. A quadratic model between response and the independent parameters was developed and the response surface model was tested with analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum operating conditions determined were a pH value of 9.4, CTAB/metal molar ratio of 0.5 and calcination temperature of 266 °C. Under these optimal conditions maximum surface area of 158 m²/g has been achieved.