Polarization-insensitive surface plasmon resonance sensor by cross-slit metallic periodic arrays

We propose a plasmonic structure to obtain polarization-insensitive localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensor, which consists of cross-slit metallic periodic arrays embedded in the background material. Numerical simulation illustrates that the mechanism of the LSPR sensor is based on the shift of the Fabry–Perot cavity mode resonance peak in the spectrum as the change of the dielectric material properties for the near fields. And one of the transmission dips of the structure is very sensitive to the background materials; the structure could gain the sensitivity (nm/RIU) more than 500 nm/RIU. Meanwhile, the structure holds great potential to achieve high-performance sensors in practical application due to polarization-insensitive virtue.     

Sensitivity enhancement of surface plasmon resonance sensor using continuous film metallic gratings

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on continuous film metallic gratings is numerically investigated for enhance sensitivity. The results calculated by rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) present that interplays between localized surface plasmons and surface plasmons polaritons contribute to sensitivity enhancement. The sensitivity enhancement factor (SEF), which represents the influence of metallic grating, increased as the grating period decreased. In addition, several reflection dips can be achieved as the period of metallic grating increased. By double-dips method, the sensitivity SPR sensor based on continuous film grating-based is improved into 153.23°/RIU, which is more sensitive than conventional thin film-based SPR sensor in the same condition. The SPR sensor based on continuous film metallic gratings exhibits good linearity.     

Optical characteristics of subwavelength metallic grating coupled porous film surface plasmon resonance sensor with high sensitivity

A high performance sub-wavelength metallic grating coupled surface plasmon resonance (SWMGCSPR) sensor with metal and porous composite layer is proposed. Rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) is conducted to prove the design feasibility, characterize the sensor's performance and determine geometric parameters of the structure, which is also employed to compute the electromagnetic (EM) field distributions at the resonant wavelengths. Parameters of sensing platform are optimized to achieve the best performance of the SPR sensor. Obtained results reveal that the proposed structure can excite SPR with negative diffraction order of SWMG. Both wavelength and angular sensitivities are greatly enhanced because surface plasmon wave (SPW) exhibits a large penetration depth which will enlarge the distance of interactions between SP and analytes. The detection sensitivities and quality parameters are estimated to be 700 nm/RIU and 509°/RIU with full width at half maximum (FWHM) less than 2.5 nm using the same optimized structure.     

D-shape polymer optical fibres for surface plasmon resonance sensing

We experimentally studied three different D-shape polymer optical fibres with an exposed core for their applications as surface plasmon resonance sensors. The first one was a conventional D-shape fibre with no microstructure while in two others the fibre core was surrounded by two rings of air holes. In one of the microstructured fibres we introduced special absorbing inclusions placed outside the microstructure to attenuate leaky modes. We compared the performance of the surface plasmon resonance sensors based on the three fibres. We showed that the fibre bending enhances the resonance in all investigated fibres. The measured sensitivity of about 610 nm/RIU for the refractive index of glycerol solution around 1.350 is similar in all fabricated sensors. However, the spectral width of the resonance curve is significantly lower for the fibre with inclusions suppressing the leaky modes.     

Investigation of surface plasmon resonance using cylindrical dielectric-metal-dielectric (C-DMD) plasmonic configuration

In this paper we have proposed a technique based on image analysis of the surface plasmon excitation at the metal-dielectric interface of inside silver coated fused silica capillary glass tube. Chemical deposition technique has been used for the deposition of silver. Angular interrogation in Kretschmann-like configuration is realized by non-radial transverse illumination of this cylindrical dielectric-metal-dielectric (C-DMD) structure with a He–Ne laser source. Here the uniform film deposition of the inside surface of the capillary is not that crucial except within the transversely illuminated working area concerned. Moreover, the proposed technique has been validated experimentally for sensing different aqueous dielectric samples inserted inside the tube.     

Experimental observation of a practical limit on enhancement of the spontaneous emission rate in blue GaN-LEDs by mediating surface plasmons

High modulation speed of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is of primary importance for applications in optical communication. To this end, we experimentally investigated enhancement behaviors of the spontaneous emission rate (SER) of electron–hole pairs in blue InGaN/GaN LEDs by mediating surface plasmons (SPs). The coupling strength of the electron–hole recombination into SPs is controlled by etching the p-GaN layer between the active and metal layers to form thicknesses between 40 nm and 10 nm. While a tendency of increasing SER is theoretically expected for a smaller separation, the maximum value SER enhancement has a practical limit of about 2.5 at λ = 441 nm, and separation of 20 nm due to damage on the p-GaN layer caused by the etching process.     

Utilization of surface plasmon resonance of Au/Pt nanoparticles for highly photosensitive ZnO nanorods network based plasmon field effect transistor

Hydrothermally processed highly photosensitive ZnO nanorods based plasmon field effect transistors (PFETs) have been demonstrated utilizing the surface plasmon resonance coupling of Au and Pt nanoparticles at Au/Pt and ZnO interface. A significantly enhanced photocurrent was observed due to the plasmonic effect of the metal nanoparticles (NPs). The Pt coated PFETs showed I_on/I_off ratio more than 3 × 10⁴ under the dark condition, with field-effect mobility of 26 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and threshold voltage of −2.7 V. Moreover, under the illumination of UV light (λ = 350 nm) the PFET revealed photocurrent gain of 10⁵ under off-state (−5 V) of operation. Additionally, the electrical performance of PFETs was investigated in detail on the basis of charge transfer at metal/ZnO interface. The ZnO nanorods growth temperature was preserved at 110 °C which allowed a low temperature, economical and simple method to develop highly photosensitive ZnO nanorods network based PFETs for large scale production.     

Plasmonic waveguiding properties of the gap plasmon mode with a dielectric substrate

The plasmonic waveguiding properties of the gap plasmon mode between two adjacent silver nanowires with a substrate are theoretically investigated using finite element method. The results show that there is a critical gap distance between two silver nanowires which approximately equals to the radius of the nanowires. When the gap distance is less than the critical distance, the influence of the substrate on the gap plasmon mode can be neglected. The gap plasmon mode has a combination of high confinement and long propagation length. Moreover, the plasmonic waveguiding properties of the gap plasmon mode are not sensitive to the wire-to-substrate distance between silver nanowires and the substrate.     

Understanding of optical readout accuracy with micromechanical sensor cantilever monitored by surface plasmon resonance

This paper reports a concept of micromechanical sensing of environmental condition using the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon. We calculate the resolution in the cantilever bending monitoring using the transfer matrix numerical method. We show that the cantilever deflection can be monitored with a resolution in the nanometer range. The SPs resonance behavior of the multilayer stack in the case of gold cantilever is discussed. We believe that this concept permits a low cost and ease of fabrication for a large bi-dimensional array of sensors with an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio.     

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.     

静电放电电磁场与金属腔体孔缝耦合的数值研究

 用时域有限差分方法研究了静电放电火化产生的电磁场在其近场区域与带孔缝金属腔体的耦合问题，基于修正的静电放电火化偶极子模型和脉冲函数放电电流解析表达式，建立了耦合数值模型，经过计算分析表明，腔体内孔缝周围分布着比较强的静电感应场，而耦合进腔体的瞬变场可以使腔体发生TE₁₀₁模为主的腔体谐振，但谐振幅度不大。     

Propagation of THz plasmon pulse on corrugated and flat metal surface

We report here experiments on surface plasmon excitation and propagation along corrugated and smooth aluminum surface in the terahertz frequency range. Narrowband plasmon excitation by a subpicosecond terahertz pulse is shown to be a transient process and plasmon propagation sufficiently changes its measured time profile. Plasmon propagation during its excitation and detection changes measured signal. We suggest to use parameters T (plasmon duration) and τ (plasmon lifetime) to describe the narrowband THz plasmon pulse. Plasmon duration and lifetime were defined and plasmon propagation lengths on smooth and corrugated surface were measured. Plasmon propagation length on flat surface turned out to be much smaller than it is predicted by the Drude model.     

Numerical simulation of multiple scattering for modeling speckle roughness analyses on vertical surface regions of silicon wafers

Laser speckle measurement methods enable the roughness analysis also for vertical regions of silicon wafers. However, we have to calculate upon disturbing intensities that are generated by multiple reflection from the surrounding surfaces. A numerical simulation will be described in this study by which the higher spatial frequency of multiple scattered speckle intensities can be shown. Since focused laser beam is generally used for this purpose the influences of convergent illumination will also be taken into account. The results confirm the feasibility of speckle measurement methods (speckle-contrast, speckle-correlation) for roughness analysis of inaccessible surface regions of microstructures (side walls of grooves, inside surfaces of borings). Also, practically undetectable effects can be analysed through the calculation algorithm.     

Characterization of gold films by surface plasmon spectroscopy: Large errors and small consequences

Evaporated gold films have a smooth interface with their substrate and a rougher top surface. We investigate the optical response of such a film by excitation of surface plasmons both on the rough and on the smooth side. The smooth side, although polycrystalline, has an optical response that is very similar to a monocrystalline surface. The film can be modeled as two-layers with significantly different optical constants. For investigations on thin dielectric films though, this heterogeneity introduces only a negligible error.     

Effects of a one-dimensional surface defect on designer surface plasmon polaritons

By using a finite difference time domain(FDTD) method,the effects of a one-dimensional(1D) surface defect on designer surface plasmon polaritons(designer SPPs) supported by a 1D metallic grating in THz domain are investigated.When the size of the defect is in a special range which is not too large,the designer SPPs reflected and scattered by the defect are weak enough to be neglected.The defect only induces a disturbance in the energy distribution of the designer SPP supported by the whole defect grating.If the defect size exceeds the said range,the reflecting and scattering are dominant in the influences of the defect on designer SPPs.Our analysis opens opportunities to control and direct designer SPPs by introducing a 1D defect,especially in low frequency domain.     

Two surface plasmon resonances effects for light through the perforated metal film

Light transmission through perforated metal film has been reported and some investigations have been made into the physical origin of this phenomenon. We show that the transmission assisted with surface plasmon (SP) through a perforated metal film results from two different SP resonances effects: surface plasmon resonance due to the periodicity at the left air/metal and right metal/air interfaces and localized cavities resonance inside rectangular holes. The fields intensity is localized separately on the left and right metal-air surfaces for structure-factor-induced surface plasmon mode. And for localized cavities resonance mode, standing electromagnetic fields can also be entirely localized inside the nanohole region. The aspect ratio of the rectangular holes can affect the transmission.     

Nanotube based hybrid plasmon polariton waveguide for propagation loss reduction and enhanced field confinement inside the gap region at the subwavelength scale

We present a comprehensive numerical investigation on the guiding properties of a nanotube based hybrid plasmonic waveguide, which comprises a high-index dielectric nanotube placed above a metallic substrate. It is shown that the incorporation of the nanotube offers additional freedom for tuning the optical performance of the hybrid plasmonic structure when compared to the traditional nanowire based hybrid counterparts, which enables further reduction of the propagation loss and enhanced field confinement inside the gap region, while simultaneously maintaining a subwavelength mode size at appropriate geometries. Systematic geometric parameters mapping considering the size of the nanotube and the dimension of the gap reveals that the tradeoff between the confinement and loss could be further balanced through optimizing key physical parameters. These investigations potentially lay the groundwork for the further applications of nanotube based hybrid structures.     

Highly sensitive selectively coated D-shape photonic crystal fibers for surface plasmon resonance sensing

We propose a design for a high sensitivity plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and analyze the sensor using finite element software (FEM). By introducing a D-shape hole instead of a circular hole in the first ring of the photonic crystal fiber, which increases the coupling effect and proficient infiltration of the sensing, resulting in enhance the performance of the sensor due to the flat structure of the D-shape hole and the homogeneous metal coating facility. We study the influence of the parameters of the D-shape hole on the sensing performance and analyze the sensor performance based on the wavelength and amplitude sensitivity. The results show that the proposed sensor is capable of detecting analyte refractive index ranging from 1.30 to 1.42, and the maximum sensitivities of 14,600 nm/RIU and 1475 RIU^?1 can be achieved in this sensing range, respectively. The largest sensor resolutions for wavelength and amplitude sensing are $6.84\times {10}^{?6}$ and $6.78\times {10}^{?6}\text{ RIU}$, and the maximum figure of merits (FOM) of the proposed sensor being 618.     

数值模拟探针诱导表面等离子体共振耦合纳米光刻

采用有损耗介质和色散介质的二维时域有限差分方法,数值模拟了以光波长514.5nm的p偏振基模高斯光束为入射光源,激发Kretschmann型表面等离子体共振,并通过探针的局域场增强效应实现纳米光刻的新方法——探针诱导表面等离子体共振耦合纳米光刻.分别就探针与记录层的间距以及探针针尖大小,模拟分析了不同情况下探针的局域场增强效应和记录层表面的相对电场强度振幅分布.结果表明,探针工作在接触模式时,探针的局域场增强效应最明显,记录层表面的相对电场强度振幅的对比度最大;当探针针尖距记录层5nm时,针尖下方记录层表面的相对电场强度振幅大于光刻临界值的分布宽度与针尖尺寸相近. 关键词： 纳米光刻 表面等离子体共振 时域有限差分方法