Analysis of phase shift of surface plasmon polaritons at metallic subwavelength hole arrays

We present the transmission spectra of light transmitting a metallic thin film perforated with differently shaped sub- wavelength hole arrays, which are calculated by a plane-wave-based transfer matrix method. We analyze the transmission peak positions and the phase-shift angles of different surface plasmon polariton （SPP） modes by using the microscopic theoretical model proposed by Haitao Liu and Philippe Lalanne [Liu Haitao, and Lalanne Philippe 2008 Nature 452 728], in which the phase shift properties of the SPPs scattered by the subwavelength hole arrays are considered. The results show that the transmission peak position and the minus phase shift angle of the SPP increase as the hole size increases. On the other hand, the effective dielectric constant of the metallic film can be deduced by the microscopic theoretical model.     

Nonlinear resonance-enhanced excitation of surface plasmon polaritons

We theoretically investigate nonlinear resonance-enhanced excitation of surface plasmon polaritons in a metal coated by a one-dimensional photonic crystal. Tunneling modes above the air-light line can be directly excited in this structure. Then, with suitable parameters, photon energy and momentum conservation between the tunneling mode and the surface plasmon polaritons can be realized by means of nonlinear four-wave mixing. Compared with the nonlinear excitation of surface plasmon polaritons in a bulk metal [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 266802 (2009)], the conversion efficiency in our structure is noticeably enhanced.     

Chiral surface plasmon polaritons on metallic nanowires

Chiral surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) can be generated by linearly polarized light incident at the end of a nanowire, exciting a coherent superposition of three specific nanowire waveguide modes. Images of chiral SPPs on individual nanowires obtained from quantum dot fluorescence excited by the SPP evanescent field reveal the chirality predicted in our theoretical model. The handedness and spatial extent of the helical periods of the chiral SPPs depend on the input polarization angle and nanowire diameter as well as the dielectric environment. Chirality is preserved in the free-space output wave, making a metallic nanowire a broad bandwidth subwavelength source of circular polarized photons.     

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.     

Nonlinear excitation of surface plasmon polaritons by four-wave mixing

We demonstrate nonlinear excitation of surface plasmons on a gold film by optical four-wave mixing. Two excitation beams of frequencies omega(1) and omega(2) are used in a modified Kretschmann configuration to induce a nonlinear polarization at a frequency of omega(4wm)=2omega(1)-omega(2), which gives rise to surface plasmon excitation at a frequency of omega(4wm). We observe a characteristic plasmon dip at the Kretschmann angle and explain its origin in terms of destructive interference. Despite a nonvanishing bulk response, surface plasmon excitation by four-wave mixing is dominated by a nonlinear surface polarization. To interpret and validate our results, we provide a comparison with second-harmonic generation.     

Efficient directional excitation of surface plasmon polaritons by partial dielectric filling slit structure

In this paper, we investigate the excitation of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) in the metallic slit partly filled with dielectric by using the finite-difference time-domain method. It is found that the slit structure displays high asymmetry in the field distribution and SPP excitation due to the difference in matching degree of SPP wavevector on the two sides of slit exit. At certain incident wavelengths, the power flow carried by SPP modes on one side of slit exit is over three orders of magnitude greater than that on the other side, an efficient directional excitation is achieved. The SPP generation efficiencies on both sides of slit exit can be periodically adjusted by the dielectric width, but their changes are not synchronous, implying that such slit structure could be acted as a directional splitter/coupler. Moreover, the asymmetry degree of SPP excitation can also be modulated by the refractive index of dielectric layer.     

Coupling of surface plasmon polaritons and light in metallic nanoslits

We clarify the nature of coupling between surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) and transmitted light in metallic nanoslit structures. The coupling strength is found to be the product of the geometric opening ratio, the aperture momentum, and the Fabry-Perot factor. We determine the effective coupling, which includes corrections due to other SPPs, and show that this effective coupling causes enhanced transmission with redshifted or blueshifted transmission peaks. Without coupling, SPP is proven to suppress transmission due to the equipartition of diffraction orders. These results show good agreement with experiment.     

Unidirectional excitation of surface plasmon polaritons in T-shaped waveguide with nanodisk resonator

The unidirectional excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in a novel configuration is numerically investigated by the finite-difference time-domain method. It is found that the transmission varies periodically with the increase of distance between the nanodisk resonator and horizontal nanoslit, which can be interpreted by the interference theory. The operating wavelength of this structure can be tuned by altering the refractive index of the nanodisk resonator. This subwavelength-scale structure exhibits high transmission (～58%) due to the constructive interference of the SPP modes, and thus can find important applications on the manipulation of SPP excitation in highly integrated optical circuits.     

Propagating surface plasmon polaritons for remote excitation surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy

To illustrate the attractive potentials of remote-excitation surface enhanced Raman scattering (RE-SERS), we review the fundamental concepts and typical applications of propagating surface plasmon polaritons (PSPPs). Based on the RE-SERS technic, the adsorbed molecules are protected from being directly illuminated, while the merits of SERS still remained. However, the critical limitations of applying RE-SERS hinder its rapid development. Hence, drawing an overview about the PSPPs would be beneficial for further promoting the significance of RE-SERS in biological application and investigating the mechanism of surface catalytic reactions.     

表面等离子体波在金属纳米缝超强透射中的作用

A single metallic nanoslit is employed for investigating the contribution of Surface Plasmon Polaritons（SPPs） to Extraordinary Optical Transmission （EOT） based on rigorous electromagnetic theory and the Spectrum Analysis Method （SAM）. Numerical results shows that the SPP is the main factor responsible for the EOT, and a phase singularity is observed.     

表面等离子体波在金属纳米缝超强透射中的作用(英文)

A single metallic nanoslit is employed for investigating the contribution of Surface Plasmon Polaritons(SPPs) to Extraordinary Optical Transmission(EOT) based on rigorous electromagnetic theory and the Spectrum Analysis Method(SAM). Numerical results shows that the SPP is the main factor responsible for the EOT, and a phase singularity is observed.     

Low-loss Airy surface plasmon polaritons

We propose a scheme to obtain a low-loss propagation of Airy surface plasmon polaritons(SPPs) along the interface between a dielectric and a negative-index metamaterial(NIMM). We show that by using the transverse-magnetic mode and the related destructive interference effect between electric and magnetic absorption responses, the propagation loss of the Airy SPPs can be largely suppressed when the optical frequency is close to the lossless point of the NIMM. As a result, the Airy SPPs obtained in our scheme can propagate more than a 6times longer distance than that in conventional dielectric–metal interfaces.     

Nonlinear s-polarized surface plasmon polaritons

We have examined the dispersion relations for s-polarized surface plasmon polaritons, guided by (a) the interface between a semi-infinite metal and dielectric medium, and (b) a metal film bounded by semi-infinite dielectric media for situations in which one or more of the dielectric media are characterized by an intensity-dependent refractive index. We found that s-polarized waves satisfy the dispersion relations for very thin metal films bounded by nonlinear dielectric media. These waves exist only for power levels above a threshold that depends on the material parameters. We also comment on the experimental feasibility of observing these waves.     

Controlling surface plasmon excitation of pair arrays of metallic nanocylinders

The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) solution were prepared with the aid of ultrasonic treatment. The composite films were prepared through casting or coagulating the PVA/HNTs solution. The coagulation process was employed to obtain a composite film without aggregation of HNTs. It is shown that the particle size and distribution of HNTs in the PVA/HNTs solution is independent of the ratio between HNTs and PVA. It is also revealed that the aggregation of HNTs takes place during the drying process of the as cast film. Compared with the film by coagulation method, the HNTs in the as cast film show less profound effect on the nucleation of the crystallization of the PVA. The crystallization temperature initially increases with HNTs loading and overloading of HNTs tend to depress the improvement in the crystallization temperature. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the composite film decreases with HNTs loading and the aggregation process shows practically no effect on the T_g. Inclusion of HNTs greatly depresses the decomposition of the PVA backbone, while it is not effective for improving the resistance to the abstraction of the side groups. The aggregation process at low concentration of HNTs has more significant effect on the thermal decomposition of composite films compared with that at high concentration. PACS 61.82.Pv; 61.46.Fg; 61.46.-w; 68.37.Lp; 67.80.Gb     

表面等离子体亚波长光学前沿进展

目前表面等离子体激元(surface plasmon polaritons，SPPs)在光存储、光激发、显微术以及生物光子学等领域中的应用前景受到了广泛的关注．文章介绍了SPPs的基本性质和表面等离子体亚波长光学(surface plasmons subwavelength optics)研究中的热点问题及发展方向．     

Monolithic excitation and manipulation of surface plasmon polaritons on a vertical cavity surface emitting laser

We report the manipulation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on a thin Au layer integrated on top of the mirror of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). Gratings etched into the Au layer to different depths are used to couple the light into and out of the film, and to bend the trajectory of the SPP. The result paves the way to compact integrated plasmonic devices.     

The excitation and emission of terahertz surface plasmon polaritons on metal wire waveguides

The development of effective techniques for guiding pulsed terahertz radiation is essential for the continued development of terahertz spectroscopy and imaging applications based on the technique of time-domain spectroscopy. Terahertz surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) can be excited and guided on cylindrical metal wires with low loss and dispersion. This propagating surface wave, known as a Sommerfeld wave, possesses radial polarization, which is not well matched with conventional sources of pulsed terahertz radiation. A photoconductive terahertz antenna with radial symmetry produces radiation that more efficiently couples to the wire waveguide. At the end of the wire, terahertz SPPs emit radiation into free-space that exhibits frequency-dependent diffraction. To cite this article: J.A. Deibel et al., C. R. Physique 9 (2008).     

表面等离子体激元的若干新应用

表面等离子体激元（SPPs）是在金属和介质界面传播的一种波动模式。本文首先叙述了SPPs的相关特性和激发方式,给出了一种基于表面等离子体激元共振（SPR）场增强原理产生相干极紫外辐射的方法,利用该方法可极大地提高光源的光子流量。分析了SPPs在生物及医疗领域的新应用,并对其在治疗癌症方面的技术原理进行了讨论。介绍了SPPs在新型光源和能源领域的发展和应用情况,综述了SPPs在太阳能电池、光子芯片以及集成电路方面的新工艺和新技术,包括最近几年来所取得的一些重要成果。最后讨论了SPPs在光存储方面的快速发展和巨大贡献。     

Magnetotransverse scattering of surface plasmon polaritons

We show experimentally that the in-plane scattering of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) is influenced by a perpendicular magnetic field. The average SPP flux is deflected into the direction perpendicular to both its initial propagation direction and the magnetic field direction. From a phenomenological point of view, this is an analogy to the Hall effect for electrons and a 2D equivalent of the photonic Hall effect.