1,078 research outputs found
Nanoantennas for visible and infrared radiation
Nanoantennas for visible and infrared radiation can strongly enhance the
interaction of light with nanoscale matter by their ability to efficiently link
propagating and spatially localized optical fields. This ability unlocks an
enormous potential for applications ranging from nanoscale optical microscopy
and spectroscopy over solar energy conversion, integrated optical
nanocircuitry, opto-electronics and density-ofstates engineering to
ultra-sensing as well as enhancement of optical nonlinearities. Here we review
the current understanding of optical antennas based on the background of both
well-developed radiowave antenna engineering and the emerging field of
plasmonics. In particular, we address the plasmonic behavior that emerges due
to the very high optical frequencies involved and the limitations in the choice
of antenna materials and geometrical parameters imposed by nanofabrication.
Finally, we give a brief account of the current status of the field and the
major established and emerging lines of investigation in this vivid area of
research.Comment: Review article with 76 pages, 21 figure
Magnetic dipole radiation tailored by substrates: numerical investigation
Nanoparticles of high refractive index materials can possess strong magnetic
polarizabilities and give rise to artificial magnetism in the optical spectral
range. While the response of individual dielectric or metal spherical particles
can be described analytically via multipole decomposition in the Mie series,
the influence of substrates, in many cases present in experimental
observations, requires different approaches. Here, the comprehensive numerical
studies of the influence of a substrate on the spectral response of high- index
dielectric nanoparticles were performed. In particular, glass, perfect electric
conductor, gold, and hyperbolic metamaterial substrates were investigated.
Optical properties of nanoparticles were characterized via scattering
cross-section spectra, electric field profiles, and induced electric and
magnetic moments. The presence of substrates was shown to introduce significant
impact on particle's magnetic resonances and resonant scattering
cross-sections. Variation of substrate material provides an additional degree
of freedom in tailoring properties of emission of magnetic multipoles,
important in many applications.Comment: 10 page, 28 figure
Doctor of Philosophy
dissertationPlasmonics, the study of light metal interactions, has shown great potential in the fields of spectroscopy, catalysis, medicine, and photovoltaics. There is significant interest in the design of metal nanoparticles that interact with specific wavelengths of light. By changing the size, shape, and metal composition, nanoparticles can be tuned to interact with different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Gold and silver are the two most common metals used in plasmonics, but are inefficient in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range and expensive. This has driven the research of plasmonics with non-noble metals that support plasmons in the UV and are cost-effective. Aluminum has been widely considered to be the ideal metal to fill this application has favorable plasmonic properties in the UV wavelength range and is cheap. However, Al is difficult to structure at the nanoscale due to its rapidly forming and chemically stable native oxide. Here we report the simple, large scale fabrication of Aluminum nanoparticle antennas. These nanoparticles have plasmon resonances in the UV, visible, near infrared, and infrared wavelengths. We demonstrate the utility of these nanoparticles as substrates for surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy, a wavelength range that is usually not associated with Aluminum. We also demonstrate that this fabrication technique allows for the fabrication of more complex nanoparticle geometries. These complex nanoparticles geometries have utility in both fundamental studies, and in surface-enhanced spectroscopies. We also demonstrate the potential of magnesium as a plasmonic metal. Magnesium is shown to support plasmon resonances from the UV to near infrared wavelengths. We investigate the plasmonic properties of nanostructured magnesium films and demonstrate that pure magnesium does not support sharp nanoscale features. By alloying magnesium with aluminum, its plasmonic and structural properties are improved
Gradient metasurfaces: a review of fundamentals and applications
In the wake of intense research on metamaterials the two-dimensional
analogue, known as metasurfaces, has attracted progressively increasing
attention in recent years due to the ease of fabrication and smaller insertion
losses, while enabling an unprecedented control over spatial distributions of
transmitted and reflected optical fields. Metasurfaces represent optically thin
planar arrays of resonant subwavelength elements that can be arranged in a
strictly or quasi periodic fashion, or even in an aperiodic manner, depending
on targeted optical wavefronts to be molded with their help. This paper reviews
a broad subclass of metasurfaces, viz. gradient metasurfaces, which are devised
to exhibit spatially varying optical responses resulting in spatially varying
amplitudes, phases and polarizations of scattered fields. Starting with
introducing the concept of gradient metasurfaces, we present classification of
different metasurfaces from the viewpoint of their responses, differentiating
electrical-dipole, geometric, reflective and Huygens' metasurfaces. The
fundamental building blocks essential for the realization of metasurfaces are
then discussed in order to elucidate the underlying physics of various physical
realizations of both plasmonic and purely dielectric metasurfaces. We then
overview the main applications of gradient metasurfaces, including waveplates,
flat lenses, spiral phase plates, broadband absorbers, color printing,
holograms, polarimeters and surface wave couplers. The review is terminated
with a short section on recently developed nonlinear metasurfaces, followed by
the outlook presenting our view on possible future developments and
perspectives for future applications.Comment: Accepted for publication in Reports on Progress in Physic
Plasmonic Nanostructures for Nano-Scale Bio-Sensing
The optical properties of various nanostructures have been widely adopted for biological detection, from DNA sequencing to nano-scale single molecule biological function measurements. In particular, by employing localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), we can expect distinguished sensing performance with high sensitivity and resolution. This indicates that nano-scale detections can be realized by using the shift of resonance wavelength of LSPR in response to the refractive index change. In this paper, we overview various plasmonic nanostructures as potential sensing components. The qualitative descriptions of plasmonic nanostructures are supported by the physical phenomena such as plasmonic hybridization and Fano resonance. We present guidelines for designing specific nanostructures with regard to wavelength range and target sensing materials
Chiral plasmonics and enhanced chiral light-matter interactions
International audienceChirality, which describes the broken mirror symmetry in geometric structures, exists macroscopically in our daily life as well as microscopically down to molecular levels. Correspondingly, chiral molecules interact differently with circularly polarized light exhibiting opposite handedness (left-handed and right-handed). However, the interaction between chiral molecules and chiral light is very weak. In contrast, artificial chiral plasmonic structures can generate “super-chiral” plasmonic near-field, leading to enhanced chiral light-matter (or chiroptical) interactions. The “super-chiral” near-field presents different amplitude and phase under opposite handedness incidence, which can be utilized to engineer linear and nonlinear chiroptical interactions. Specifically, in the interaction between quantum emitters and chiral plasmonic structures, the chiral hot spots can favour the emission with a specific handedness. This article reviews the state-of-the-art research on the design, fabrication and chiroptical response of different chiral plasmonic nanostructures or metasurfaces. This review also discusses enhanced chiral light-matter interactions that are essential for applications like chirality sensing, chiral selective light emitting and harvesting. In the final part, the review ends with a perspective on future directions of chiral plasmonics
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