Fano resonances in complex plasmonic super-nanoclusters: The effect of environmental modifications on the LSPR sensitivity

In this study, gold nanodisk clusters in heptamer orientations as clusters were used to design a super-heptamer consisting of one central and six peripheral heptamers. We examined the position and movement of the plasmon and Fano resonances by sketching the spectral response of the superstructure for various nanodisk dimensions. The quality of the interference between the superradiant and subradiant plasmon resonance modes of the nanodisk clusters was found to depend strongly on the structural configuration and the refractive index of the environmental medium. We replaced the central heptamer with a nanodisk and probed the position of the Fano resonance by geometrically altering the nanodisk structure. Finally, the effect of the dielectric environment on the plasmon response of both of the studied structures was examined numerically and theoretically. The localized surface plasmon resonance sensitivity of the finite plasmonic structures to the presence of liquid substances was investigated and shown by plotting the linear figure of merit. The finite-difference time-domain method was used as a numerical tool to investigate the plasmon response of the structure.     

Grating-assisted generation of 2D surface plasmon interference patterns for nanoscale photolithography

Generation of 2D surface plasmon interference patterns using a 3D metal-dielectric diffraction structure is studied. The potential application field is surface plasmon interference nanolithography aimed at fabrication of 3D periodic structures. The considered structure consists of a 3D dielectric diffraction grating with a metal film applied in the substrate region. The diffraction grating is designed to transform the incident wave into a set of surface plasmons that generate 2D interference pattern underneath the metal film. The configuration of the interference patterns is analyzed theoretically. It is shown by simulations within the rigorous electromagnetic theory that high-contrast interference patterns with the period 2.5-3.5 times smaller than the incident wave length can be produced. The configuration of the calculated patterns coincides with theoretically estimated ones. At the interference maxima electric field intensity exceeds incident wave intensity by an order of magnitude. The ways to control the form and period of the interference pattern by changing polarization and length of the incident wave are presented.     

Sensitivity enhancement based on application of multi-pass interferometry in phase-sensitive surface plasmon resonance biosensor

A novel design of multi-pass surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor with differential phase interrogation based on multi-pass interferometry is presented. This new configuration provides an intrinsic phase amplification effect of over twofold by placing the SPR sensor head in a signal arm of the interferometer so that the interrogating optical beam will traverse the sensor surface infinite number of times. Experimental interferometers based on the Michelson and Fabry–Perot configurations have been employed to experimentally verify this amplification effect when they were compared with Mach–Zehnder configuration, results obtained from salt–water mixtures, antibody–antigen, and protein–DNA binding reaction confirmed the expected phase measurement enhancement, thus leading to the possibility of direct detection of small sized bio-molecules using SPR.     

Large optical-frequency shift of molecular radiation via coherent coupling to an off-resonance plasmon

We demonstrate coherent optical coupling between molecular and plasmon resonances that are well separated in energy. In the presence of metallic nanoparticles, the second harmonic spectrum of organic dyes no longer peaks at the absorption wavelength but is instead blueshifted by 25 nm towards the localized plasmon resonance. The phase of the light generated by the dyes displays a large modulation across the plasmon resonance and no change across the molecular one. The second harmonic signal contributed by the nanoparticles, which is peaked at the plasmon frequency when no molecules are present, similarly displays a shift towards the molecular resonance in their presence. A model based on the interplay of the nonlinear optical near fields is able to account for these observations.     

Characterisation of the interface between GaAs: Cr substrates andn-type epitaxial GaAs layers by infrared multiple interference analysis

Infrared reflectivity measurements on vapour phase grownn-GaAs epitaxial layers (n=7×10¹⁶...5×10¹⁸ cm^–3) deposited on semi-insulating GaAs:Cr substrates show interference structures whose strength cannot be explained by the interference pattern of a simple two layer system. Assuming a third very thin (0.4 m) interfacial layer it is possible to describe the experimental results. For Te doping the carrier concentration in the interfacial film is higher than in the volume of the epitaxial layer; it is lower for Sn doping. The results of this nondestructive optical method were confirmed by conductivity measurements while etching the sample. The origin of the interfacial layer is discussed in terms of non-steady state conditions at the beginning of the epitaxial growth.     

Measurement of refractive index variation of liquids by surface plasmon resonance and wavelength-modulated heterodyne interferometry

In this study an alternative method based on surface plasmon resonance is proposed for in-situ monitoring of variation in the refractive index of a test sample. A wavelength-modulated light source and an unequal-path-length optical configuration heterodyne interferometer are used to detect the phase difference change, which can then be used to estimate the change in the refractive index of a test sample. The experimental results demonstrate a phase stability of 0.02°. The resolution power of the refractive index is 1.5 × 10^− 6 RIU. This method has several advantages over previously used methods such as simple optical setup, easier operation in real time, and low cost.     

基于二维多模干涉效应的N×N光开关模型

报道了由两个N×N三维多模干涉耦合器和一段阵列相移波导组成的三维光开关.首先利用导模传输法分析了三维多模干涉耦合器的一般成像原理,并推导出了其成像位置以及相位矩阵.在此基础上,通过场传输矩阵法建立了光开关的传输方程.利用该传输方程计算得到了光开关工作时,阵列相移波导的相位条件,并通过三维有限差分光束传输法进行仿真验证,给出了光开关工作时的插损、串扰指标,以及光开关输出功率随相移波导相位变化的关系.     

Enhancement of Nonlinear Optical Effects in Porous Composite Plasmonic Structures

A method for formation of bulk plasmonic structures based on porous quartz with silver nanoparticles in pores has been proposed and implemented. The spectroscopy of their optical and nonlinear optical properties has been performed by methods of second harmonic generation and two-photon absorption. A significant increase in the nonlinear absorption coefficient has been detected in the plasmon resonance region. The enhancement of the second optical harmonic has been observed with the shift by tens of nanometers from the plasmon resonance position toward the long-wavelength region.     

Spectral degeneracy breaking of the plasmon resonance of single metal nanoparticles by nanoscale near-field photopolymerization

We report on controlled nanoscale photopolymerization triggered by enhanced near fields of silver nanoparticles excited close to their dipolar plasmon resonance. By anisotropic polymerization, symmetry of the refractive index of the surrounding medium was broken: C infinity v symmetry turned to C2v symmetry. This allowed for spectral degeneracy breaking in particles plasmon resonance whose apparent peak became continuously tunable with the incident polarization. From the spectral peak, we deduced the refractive-index ellipsoid fabricated around the particles. In addition to this control of optical properties of metal nanoparticles, this method opens new routes for nanoscale photochemistry and provides a new way of quantification of the magnitude of near fields of localized surface plasmons.     

Effect of interfacial alloying on the surface plasmon resonance of nanocrystalline Au-Ag multilayer thin films

Nanocrystalline Au and Ag in multilayer thin film form with Au/Ag/Au structure were prepared by high pressure (∼40 Pa) d.c. sputtering techniques. The Ag concentrations in Ag_xAu_1-x films were changed from x = 0 to 1. These multilayer films with varying Ag concentration showed significant changes in microstructures obtained from TEM and XRD analyses. The optical absorption spectra of these multilayer films showed a single plasmon band confirming the formation of Au-Ag alloy. We ascribe this alloying to the interfacial reactions in nanophase limited at the Au-Ag interface. The red-shift and broadening of the plasmon bands with the increase in silver concentration could be associated to the increase in size of the nanoparticles and its distribution. The observed red shift in the plasmon band may be associated with the change in electronic structure at the Au-Ag interface due to configuration mixing of the atomic energy levels of Au and Ag. Received 17 October 2002 / Received in final form 26 February 2003 Published online 23 May 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: msakp@mahendra.iacs.res.in     

金纳米球壳表面等离激元共振波长调谐特性研究

理论研究了金纳米球壳的几何结构参数, 及物理参量对局 域表面等离激元共振波长调谐特性的影响. 结果表明, 随着壳层厚度的增大, 球壳消光共振峰先蓝移后红移, 高阶峰转向时对应的壳层厚度比低阶峰大, 且该厚度与球壳内径的比值随内径尺寸的增大而减小, 随内核材料或外界环境介电常数的增大而增大, 散射共振峰也有类似的移动规律. 利用电子杂化效应和相位延迟效应对该现象进行了理论解释.     

Neutron and light wave-fields in accelerated interferometers

We derive the wave-field in an accelerated neutron or optical interferometer. For a dispersive medium the interference pattern is always determined by the group velocity. The phase shift differs to second order in g from the one obtained when the source is at rest in the interferometer frame.     

基于纳米天线的多通道高强度定向表面等离子体波激发

设计了一种带有纳米天线的金属微腔结构, 以实现高强度表面等离子的定向激发. 在利用双狭缝结构实现表面等离子体波定向激发的基础上, 分别结合共振增强和干涉相长原理, 在传统结构的入射端面上添加纳米天线结构, 并增加狭缝通道数, 实现了定向激发的表面等离子体波的能量增强. 基于纳米天线的多通道高强度定向表面等离子体波激发装置结构简单, 系统紧凑, 并能够有效提高定向传播的表面等离子体波的能量密度和传播距离, 其对微纳光学传输和高密度光学集成领域等方面的研究具有重要意义.     

表面等离激元探针的高介电灵敏度与液体折射率测定

利用金纳米棒在光照射下激发表面等离激元的性质,实验研究了其在不同介电环境下的吸收光谱.通过分析纵向等离子体共振吸收峰峰位随介质折射率的变化,获得了金纳米棒表面等离激元探针测量介质折射率的经验公式为n=(385.59)-1(λ/nm-290.56).利用金纳米棒表面等离激元探针的高介电灵敏度,测试了一些未知液体的折射率,并与阿贝折射仪测量法的结果相比较.结果与分析表明,本方法较之阿贝折射仪测量介质折射率的方法具有更高的精密度.因此,表面等离探针可用于拓展大学物理实验中的介质折射率测量实验.     

High sensitivity refractive index gas sensing enhanced by surface plasmon resonance with nano-cavity antenna array

The surface plasmon resonance gas sensor is presented for refractive index detection using nano-cavity antenna array.The gas sensor monitors the changes of the refractive index by measuring the spectral shift of the resonance dip,for modulating the wavelength of incident light.It is demonstrated that minute changes in the refractive index of a medium close to the surface of a metal film,owing to a shift in the resonance dip of the wavelength,can be detected.The average detection sensitivity is about 3200 nm/RIU(refractive index units),which is more than twice that of a metal grating-based gas sensor.The reflectivity of the surface plasmon resonance dip is only ～ 0.03%,and the full widths at half maximum(FWHMs) of bandwidth of the angle and wavelength are ～ 0.20° and 4.71nm,respectively.     

The character of metal-insulator phase transition in V2O3 from the plasmon behaviour

The metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) in V₂O₃ has been studied by thermoreflectance spectroscopy. The behaviour of the plasmon resonance as a function of crystal temperature has been measured. This experimental method is a sensitive probe of the effects of electron-electron correlation and/or of the band gap opening at the MIT phase transitions. A blue shift of the plasmon energy in cooling the sample throught the phase transition temperature has been found. This behaviour, with a shift in the opposite direction of that found in VO₂, provides a direct experimental evidence that the electron-electron interaction plays a minor role in driving the V₂O₃ phase transition.     

Rapid tarnishing of silver nanoparticles in ambient laboratory air

Silver has useful surface-plasmon-resonance properties for many potential applications. However, chemical activity in silver nanoparticles exposed to laboratory air can make interpretation of optical scattering and extinction spectra problematic. We have measured the shift of the plasmon polariton wavelength of arrays of silver nanoparticles with increasing exposure to ambient laboratory air. The resonance peak wavelength shifts 65 nm in 36 h (1.8 nm/h). We show by scanning Auger spectroscopy that the shift is due to contamination from sulfur, most likely chemisorbed on the surface. The rate of corrosion product growth on the nanoparticles is estimated to be 3 nm per day, 7.5 times higher than that of bulk Ag under the same conditions.     

Sub‐wavelength interference pattern from volume plasmon polaritons in a hyperbolic medium

Inside of a hyperbolic medium, the principal components of the permittivity tensor have opposite signs causing the medium to exhibit a ‘metallicbr’ type of response to light wave sin one direction, and a ‘dielectric’ response in the other. Our study shows that inside hyperbolic media, volume plasmon polaritons (VPPs) propagate along the characteristic planes, forming distinct, directionally dependent optical responses. This is similar to the propagation of conventional surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) along the planar interfaces separating the isotropic dielectrics and metallic slabs. Interestingly, the plasmon polariton propagates along the resonance cone in a volume of hyperbolic metamaterial crossing the interfaces of the constitutive materials. The Young's double‐slit scheme is used to study the spatially‐confined diffraction in a hyperbolic slab, made of many thin planar layers of a metal and dielectric, to obtain the sub‐wavelength interference pattern at the output interface. Proof‐of‐concept systems for producing such patterns applicable to nanolithography and subwavelength probes are demonstrated.     

High-sensitivity holographic interferometry method for studying transparent objects with small transverse size

A new method for studying transparent objects with a small transverse size is considered. The method is based on lateral-shift holographic interferometry combining the displacement of the transparent object under investigation between the recordings of a pair of holographic interference patterns and their optical treatment. The interference patterns of the transparent object under investigation with a lateral shift equal to or larger than the linear size of the object are equivalent to the interference patterns obtained in a double-beam interferometer with a reference wave. In addition, such patterns are characterized by a higher sensitivity of imaging of optical inhomogeneities of the object under investigation. The results of experiments on testing this method for monitoring optical inhomogeneities of the active medium crystal of a solid-state laser are reported. The resultant interference patterns depict optical inhomogeneity of the crystal with a sensitivity 12 times higher.     

银层超透镜光学传递函数的研究

银层超透镜对基于表面等离子体激元的超分辨光刻、 成像和生物传感有着重要作用.利用银层超透镜的光学传递函数详 细研究了银板的表面等离子体激元共振和成像特性, 并利用时域有限差分法计算模拟了银层超透镜的成像过程, 得到与理论推导公式相符合的结果, 证明了光学传递函数的可靠性, 为基于表面等离子体激元的传感器件、 超分辨成像以及辅助增强干涉光刻提供了快速参数优化方法.