Plasmonic modulator based on gain-assisted metal–semiconductor–metal waveguide

We investigate plasmonic modulators with gain material to be implemented as ultra-compact and ultra-fast active nanodevices in photonic integrated circuits. We analyze metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) waveguides with InGaAsP-based active material layers as ultra-compact plasmonic modulators. The modulation is performed by changing the gain of the core, that results in different transmittance through the waveguides. A MSM waveguide enables high field localization and therefore high modulation speed. Bulk semiconductor, quantum wells and quantum dots, arranged in either horizontal or vertical layout, are considered as the core of the MSM waveguide. Dependences on the waveguide core size and gain values of various active materials are studied. The designs consider also practical aspects like n- and p-doped layers and barriers in order to obtain close to reality results. The effective propagation constants in the MSM waveguides are calculated numerically. Their changes in the switching process are considered as a figure of merit. We show that a MSM waveguide with electrical current control of the gain incorporates compactness and deep modulation along with having a reasonable level of transmittance.     

Minimal spaser threshold within electrodynamic framework: Shape,size and modes

It is known (yet often ignored) from quantum mechanical or energetic considerations, that the threshold gain of the quasi‐static spaser depends only on the dielectric functions of the metal and the gain material. Here, we derive this result from the purely classical electromagnetic scattering framework. This is of great importance, because electrodynamic modelling is far simpler than quantum mechanical one. The influence of the material dispersion and spaser geometry are clearly separated; the latter influences the threshold gain only indirectly, defining the resonant wavelength. We show that the threshold gain has a minimum as a function of wavelength. A variation of nanoparticle shape, composition, or spasing mode may shift the plasmonic resonance to this optimal wavelength, but it cannot overcome the material‐imposed minimal gain. Furthermore, retardation is included straightforwardly into our framework; and the global spectral gain minimum persists beyond the quasi‐static limit. We illustrate this with two examples of widely used geometries: Silver spheroids and spherical shells embedded in and filled with gain materials.     

Proposed electrically-pumped,III–V-metal hybrid plasmonic lasers

We propose an electrically-pumped hybrid plasmonic laser through the integration of a semiconductor quantum well laser with a thin metal film. Due to the coupling between the TM waveguide mode in the III–V active layer and the LRSPP mode around the metal thin film, light can be confined in both regions and optical gain can be provided by the active layer. We have shown that the quasi-odd supermode is the preferred lasing mode because of its larger confinement factor and lower modal loss compared to the quasi-even supermode. Through optimizing the gap distance between the active region and the metal film, we can obtain low threshold and a large amount of optical energy confined around the metal film for the hybrid plasmonic laser.     

Prospects of Utilizing Quantum Emitters to Control the Absorption of Non-Noble Plasmonic Metal Nanoparticles

Prospects of controlling the absorption of the cost-effective plasmonic metal nanoparticles (MNPs) Cu and Al using quantum emitters (QEs) are demonstrated semi-analytically. The resulting spectra are compared with the absorption of commonly used noble plasmonic metal nanoparticles Au and Ag under similar conditions. It is observed that Cu and Au based plasmonic nanoparticles exhibit largely similar exciton–plasmon Fano interaction signatures in addition to their similar spectral regions of operation (lower end of the visible range). Furthermore, the QE-enhanced maximum absorption (Fano maximum) of Cu based nanohybrids are seen to approach the maximum absorption level of isolated Au MNPs, with decreasing QE-Cu separation, increasing QE dipole element magnitude, and increasing medium permittivity, in the parameter region considered. This renders Cu based exciton–plasmon nanohybrids as more economical alternatives for Au MNPs and Au-based nanohybrids in absorption-based applications (such as thermoplasmonic), when stabilized in protective embedding media such as poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).     

Optical bistability and multistability in a four-level quantum system in the presence of plasmonic nanostructure

In this paper, the effect of plasmonic nanostructure on behavior of optical bistability and multistability in a four-level quantum system embedded in a unidirectional ring cavity has been studied. It is found that the distance between plasmonic nanostructures and a four-level quantum system is varied from 4.4 nm to 14.4 nm and has an essential role for controlling the threshold of optical bistability and multistability. Moreover, obtained results show that the group velocity of pulse propagation through the medium is strongly depended on the distance between the plasmonic nanostructure and the four-level quantum system.     

Controlling Single-Photon Emission with Ultrathin Transdimensional Plasmonic Films

The properties of a two-level quantum dipole emitter near an ultrathin transdimensional plasmonic film are studied theoretically. The model system studied mimics a solid-state single-photon source device. Using realistic experimental parameters, the spontaneous and stimulated emission intensity profiles are computed as functions of the excitation frequency and film thickness, followed by the analysis of the second-order photon correlations to explore the photon antibunching effect. It is shown that ultrathin transdimensional plasmonic films can greatly improve photon antibunching with thickness reduction, which allows one to control the quantum properties of light and make them more pronounced. Knowledge of these features is advantageous for solid-state single-photon source device engineering and overall for the development of the new integrated quantum photonics material platform based on the transdimensional plasmonic films.     

Spaser in plasmonic nano-antenna evaluated by an analytical theory

Surface plasmon amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation (spaser) in plasmonic nanocavities as a novel concept has quickly advanced in recent years. Understanding the nature and mechanism of the spaser system is important for both fundamental studies and the development of new applications. We theoretically investigate the spaser made from a plasmonic nano-antenna embedded with active gain media by using an analytical semiclassical theory. It incorporates the four-level atomic rate equations in association with the classical oscillator model for active materials and Maxwell’s equations for fields. The nano-antenna cavity has a large Purcell factor and low absorption loss which is beneficial for the realization of low-threshold spaser. We use the theory to uncover all the characteristics of this nanocavity spaser system, including the enhancement of the local electric field, gain, saturation phenomenon and lasing threshold. It is found that an important quantity named the cavity loss coupling strength coefficient can be explored to provide a new way to design the nanocavity precisely to reduce the absorption power density and enhance the spaser output power density simultaneously. The theory can be commonly used in understanding and designing various micro/nanolaser and spaser systems.     

表面等离激元量子信息应用研究进展

近年来表面等离激元得到了越来越多的关注和研究,得益于其能把电磁场束缚在金属-介质界面附近的亚波长尺度范围内.本文回顾了近年来表面等离激元在量子信息领域中的理论和实验研究,包括表面等离激元的基本量子性质、表面等离激元量子回路、在量子尺度下与物质的相互作用及其潜在应用.量子表面等离激元开辟了对表面等离激元基本物理性质研究的新方向,可以应用于高度集成化的量子集成光学回路,同时也可以用来增强光与量子发光体的相互作用.     

Low-threshold plasmonic lasing based on high-Q dipole void mode in a metallic nanoshell

We propose a novel type of plasmonic lasing nanostructure consisting of a metallic shell and a gain core. We demonstrate numerically that highly localized void modes of such metallodielectric core-shell nanoparticles have a very high quality factor. We found that the dipole void mode has a lasing threshold as low as 128 cm(-1) at 800 nm as a result of the unique mode distribution within the shell, due to a maximum field enhancement around the void center. The lasing condition for a symmetry-reduced silver nanocup is also investigated and the low plasmonic lasing threshold is sustained provided that the opening angle of the nanocup is smaller than 10°. Our proposal presents a new path toward plasmonic lasers with low gain threshold.     

Controlled coupling of NV defect centers to plasmonic and photonic nanostructures

Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect centers in diamond have recently emerged as promising candidates for a number of applications in the fields of quantum optics and quantum information, such as single photon generation and spin qubit operations. The performance of these defect centers can strongly be enhanced through coupling to plasmonic and photonic nanostructures, such as metal particles and optical microcavities. Here, we demonstrate the controlled assembly of such hybrid structures via manipulation with scanning near-field probes. In particular, we investigate the plasmonic enhancement of the single photon emission through coupling to gold nanospheres as well as the coupling of diamond nanocrystals to the optical modes of microsphere resonators and photonic crystal cavities. These systems represent prototypes of fundamental nanophotonic/plasmonic elements and provide control on the generation and coherent transfer of photons on the level of a single quantum emitter.     

Enhancing Bremsstrahlung production from ultraintense laser-solid interactions with front surface structures

A new type of a coaxial multi-layer plasmonic waveguide is proposed. The mode propagation properties are analyzed at the communication working wavelength. Theoretical investigations reveal that the enhanced optical confinement can be achieved in the two low-index dielectric media layers. The mode size can be sub- or deep sub-wavelength scale. The mode propagation loss can be well compensated by replacing the high-index dielectric media with gain material to achieve longer propagation length with better mode confinement. The comparisons of the mode properties between the proposed waveguide and waveguides studied in the published literatures are also considered. These investigations potentially lay the groundwork for the further applications of nanowire type multilayer hybrid structures. This structure could also enable various applications such asnanophotonic waveguides, high-quality nanolasers, and optical trapping and biosensors.     

Gain-assisted indented plasmonic waveguide for low-threshold nanolaser applications

A subwavelength plasmonic indented waveguide with an active InGaAsP core is proposed.The characteristics of the gap plasmon mode and gain required for lossless propagation are investigated and analyzed by the finite element method.We numerically calculate the normalized mode areas and percentages of energy confined in InGaAsP and metal for plasmonic nanolaser applications.It is shown that the indentation of the sidewalls has an optimal value for which the lasing threshold gain is minimal.The structure could enable low-threshold subwavelength lasing and applications for optoelectronic integrated circuits.     

Dynamics of amplification in a nanoplasmonic metamaterial

Plasmonic metamaterials form an exciting new class of engineered media that promise a range of important applications, such as subwavelength focusing, cloaking and slowing/stopping of light. Recently it has been shown that the internal losses due to the natural absorption of metals at optical frequencies can be compensated by gain. Here, we employ a Maxwell–Bloch methodology which allows us to study the dynamics of the coherent plasmon-gain interaction, nonlinear saturation, field enhancement and radiative damping. Using numerical pump-probe experiments on a double-fishnet metamaterial with dye-molecule inclusions we investigate the buildup of the inversion and the formation of the plasmonic modes in the low-Q fishnet cavity. We find that loss compensation occurs in the negative-refractive-index regime and that, due to the loss compensation and the associated sharpening of the resonance, the real part of the refractive index of the metamaterial becomes more negative compared to the passive case. Furthermore, we investigate the behavior of the metamaterial above the lasing threshold, and we identify the occurrence of a far-field lasing burst and gain depletion. Our results provide deep insight into the internal processes that affect the macroscopic properties of active metamaterials. This could guide the development of amplifying and lasing plasmonic nanostructures.     

A plasmonic waveguide end-coupled to two plasmonic cavities in a non-Hermitian quantum system for dual-band unidirectional reflectionlessness

We demonstrate the possibility of dual-band unidirectional reflectionlessness in a non-Hermitian quantum system composed of a plasmonic waveguide and two end-coupled plasmonic cavities(PCs).Our scheme exhibits dual-band unidirectional reflectionlessness can be obtained at exceptional points by properly adjusting the coupling strength between two PCs,the ratio of decay rates of two PCs,and the ratio of plasmonic cavity-waveguide coupling strengths.As a valuable feature,the quality factor reaches to~175.4 in forward direction,while the backward quality factor is close to~188.2.     

Recent progress on photoluminescence from plasmonic nanostructures: Phenomenon,mechanism, and application

Photoluminescence(PL) from bulk noble metals arises from the interband transition of bound electrons. Plasmonic nanostructures can greatly enhance the quantum yield of noble metals through the localized surface plasmon. In this work,we briefly review recent progress on the phenomenon, mechanism, and application of one-photon PL from plasmonic nanostructures. Particularly, our recent efforts in the study of the PL peak position, partial depolarization, and mode selection from plasmonic nanostructures can bring about a relatively complete and deep understanding of the physical mechanism of one-photon PL from plasmonic nanostructures, paving the way for future applications in plasmonic imaging,plasmonic nanolasing, and surface enhanced fluorescence spectra.     

A high-quality factor hybrid plasmonic nanocavity based on distributed Bragg reflectors

Herein,we propose a high-quality(Q) factor hybrid plasmonic nanocavity based on distributed Bragg reflectors(DBRs) with low propagation loss and extremely strong mode confinement.This hybrid plasmonic nanocavity is composed of a high-index cylindrical nanowire separated from a metal surface possessing shallow DBRs gratings by a sufficiently thin low-index dielectric layer.The hybrid plasmonic nanocavity possesses advantages such as a high Purcell factor(Fp) of up to nearly 20000 and a gain threshold approaching 266 cm~(-1)at 1550 nm,promising a greater potential in deep sub-wavelength lasing applications.     

光解水的原子尺度机理和量子动力学

利用阳光直接将水分解为不含碳的氢气燃料和氧气是面向全球能源危机环保且低成本的解决方案.得益于电子结构理论和量子模拟方法的进步,人们已经能够直接研究在纳米颗粒上等离激元诱导光解水过程在原子尺度上的反应机理和超快动力学.本文简述近年来的相关工作进展.吸附在氧化物薄膜上的金纳米颗粒很有希望成为水分解的高效新型光催化剂.在光激发条件下,水分解反应速率和光强、热电子转移之间有强相关性.水分解速率不仅取决于光吸收强度,还受到等离激元量子振动模式的调控.这对于太阳能光解水器件中纳米颗粒的设计有借鉴意义.我们发现液态水在金团簇等离激元催化下100 fs内就能产生氢气.超快量子动力学模拟表明,该过程中场增强起主导作用,从金属到水反键态的超快电荷转移也扮演着重要角色.综合这些原子尺度上的量子动力学研究,我们提出受激水分子中氢原子高速碰撞(速度远远超出其热速度)合成氢分子的"链式反应"机理.     

带有增益介质层的混合脊状等离子体波导的传输特性

在传统脊状等离子体波导的基础上设计了一种带有增益介质层的新型混合脊状等离子体波导,其结构中的介质层部分包含两个区域:前区为单一介质,后区的脊是由2种介质构成的双层脊区。采用二维时域有限差分方法分析了波导结构的传输特性,得到了TM模下的电场分布图,并对输出功率以及传输损耗与结构参数和介质折射率的变化规律进行了讨论。结果表明,在波导中引入的增益介质材料磷化铟后其损耗达到-6 dB/μm。此种波导结构对于光集成芯片的研究与制作具有重要意义。     

平面金属等离激元美特材料对光学Tamm态及相关激射行为的增强作用

本文对具有类EIR色散特性的平面金属等离激元美特材料(planar plasmonic metamaterials, PPM)对光学Tamm态及相关激射行为的增强作用进行了研究. 我们首先运用传输矩阵方法分析了利用PPM结构的色散来增强光学Tamm态对应模式电磁局域密度的可能性. 其次, 我们将具有类EIR特性的PPM与一维光子晶体(photonic crystal, PC)合在一起设计了一种平面等离激元美特材料-光子晶体(PPM-PC)异质结构. 研究发现, 通过在电磁局域密度最高的PPM结构中(或附近)加入增益介质, 可观察到比通常光学Tamm态更强的激射增强效应及更明显的单色性响应. 这些特性使得这种PPM-PC结构有望被应用于低阈值激光器、荧光增强等方面.