Circuit elements at optical frequencies: nano-inductors, nano-capacitors and nano-resistors

We present some ideas for synthesizing nanocircuit elements in the optical domain using plasmonic and non-plasmonic nanoparticles. Three basic circuit elements, i.e., nano-inductors, nano-capacitors, and nano-resistors, are discussed in terms of small nanostructures with different material properties. Coupled nanocircuits and parallel and series combinations are also envisioned, which may provide road maps for the synthesis of more complex nanocircuits in the IR and visible bands. Ideas for the optical implementation of right-handed and left-handed nano-transmission lines are also forecasted.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letter

Negative effective permeability and left-handed materials at optical frequencies

We present here the design of nano-inclusions made of properly arranged collections of plasmonic metallic nano-particles that may exhibit a resonant magnetic dipole collective response in the visible domain. When such inclusions are embedded in a host medium, they may provide metamaterials with negative effective permeability at optical frequencies. We also show how the same inclusions may provide resonant electric dipole response and, when combining the two effects at the same frequencies, lefthanded materials with both negative effective permittivity and permeability may be synthesized in the optical domain with potential applications for imaging and nano-optics applications.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures; modified the format, added a figur

Nonlinear optics: Feature issue introduction

This joint issue of Optics Express and Optical Materials Express features 18 state-of-the art articles that witness actual developments in nonlinear optics, including those by authors who participated in the international conference Nonlinear Optics held in Waikoloa, Hawaii from July 15 to 19, 2019. As an introduction, the editors provide a summary of these articles that cover all aspects of nonlinear optics, from basic nonlinear effects and novel frequency windows to innovative nonlinear materials and devices, thereby paving the way for new nonlinear optical concepts and forthcoming applications

Quasi-planar optics: computing light propagation and scattering in planar waveguide arrays

We analyze wave propagation in coupled planar waveguides, pointing specific attention to modal cross-talk and out-of-plane scattering in quasi-planar photonics. An algorithm capable of accurate numerical computation of wave coupling in arrays of planar structures is developed and illustrated on several examples of plasmonic and volumetric waveguides. An analytical approach to reduce or completely eliminate scattering and modal cross-talk in planar waveguides with anisotropic materials is also presented

Engineering the Photonic Density of States with metamaterials

The photonic density of states (PDOS), like its' electronic coun- terpart, is one of the key physical quantities governing a variety of phenom- ena and hence PDOS manipulation is the route to new photonic devices. The PDOS is conventionally altered by exploiting the resonance within a device such as a microcavity or a bandgap structure like a photonic crystal. Here we show that nanostructured metamaterials with hyperbolic dispersion can dramatically enhance the photonic density of states paving the way for metamaterial based PDOS engineering

Anomalous Optical Force Fields Around High-Contrast Subwavelength Nanowaveguides

We show that anomalous-even repulsive-force fields can be induced around high-contrast optical nanowaveguides. Interestingly the longitudinal scattering force attains a maximum value even within regions where the Poynting vector is negative. ©2010 Optical Society of America

Anomalous Optical Force Fields Around High-Contrast Subwavelength Nanowaveguides

We show that anomalous-even repulsive-force fields can be induced around highcontrast optical nanowaveguides. Interestingly the longitudinal scattering force attains a maximum value even within regions where the Poynting vector is negative. © 2010 Optical Society of America

Effective linear regimes in plasmonic three-wave mixing

The theory of parametric resonances induced by three-wave mixing processes in planar plasmonic structures coupled to second order nonlinear crystals is investigated in detail. The system under study involves a pump field interacting with two counterpropagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), where the permittivity of the dielectric medium is modulated by the pump field's amplitude. Two distinct linear regimes are identified: linearity in time at the onset of the parametric resonance and linearity with respect to the pump amplitude in the steady state. The former emerges at the onset of the parametric resonance but is suppressed over longer time intervals due to second order interactions that lead to nonlinearity. Conversely, the latter rises thanks to the induction of an effective third order nonlinearity that forces the SPPs' amplitudes to have a linear relationship with the pump amplitude. (c) 2024 Optica Publishing Grou