Interferometric near-field characterization of plasmonic slot waveguides in single- and poly-crystalline gold films

Plasmonic waveguides are a promising platform for integrated nanophotonic circuits and nanoscale quantum optics. Their use is however often hampered by the limited propagation length of the guided surface plasmon modes. A detailed understanding of the influence of the material quality and the waveguide geometry on the complex mode index is therefore crucial. In this letter, we present interferometric near-field measurements at telecommunication wavelength on plasmonic slot waveguides fabricated by focused ion beam milling in single- and poly-crystalline gold films. We observe a significantly better performance of the slot waveguides in the single-crystalline gold film for slot widths below $100\,\mathrm{nm}$. In contrast for larger slot widths, both gold films give rise to comparable mode propagation lengths. Our experimental observations indicate that the nature of the dominant loss channel changes with increasing gap size from Ohmic to leakage radiation. Our experimental findings are reproduced by three dimensional numerical calculations.Comment: 4 figure

Cover Article Research Articles, Systems/Circuits

Double cones are the most common photoreceptor cell type in most avian retinas, but their precise functions remain a mystery. Among their suggested functions are luminance detection, polarized light detection, and light-dependent, radical-pair-based magnetoreception. To better understand the function of double cones, it will be crucial to know how they are connected to the neural network in the avian retina. Here we use serial sectioning, multi-beam scanning electron microscopy (ssmSEM) to investigate double cone anatomy and connectivity with a particular focus on their contacts to other photoreceptor and bipolar cells in the chicken retina. We found that double cones are highly connected with neighbouring double cones and with other photoreceptor cells through telodendria-to-terminal and telodendria-to-telodendria contacts. We also identified 15 bipolar cell types based on their axonal stratifications, photoreceptor contact pattern, soma position, and dendritic and axonal field mosaics. Thirteen of these 15 bipolar cell types contacted at least one or both members of the double cone. All bipolar cells were bi- or multistratified. We also identified surprising contacts between other cone types and between rods and cones. Our data indicate a much more complex connectivity network in the outer plexiform layer of the avian retina than originally expected

Freestanding metasurfaces for optical frequencies

We present freestanding metasurfaces operating at optical frequencies with a total thickness of only 40$\,$nm. The metasurfaces are fabricated by focused ion beam milling of nanovoids in a carbon film followed by thermal evaporation of gold and plasma ashing of the carbon film. As a first example, we demonstrate a metasurface lens based on resonant V-shaped nanovoids with a focal length of 1$\,$mm. The second example is a metasurface phase-plate consisting of appropriately oriented rectangular nanovoids that transforms a Gaussian input beam into a Laguerre-Gaussian ${LG_{-1,0}}$ mode

Retinal horizontal cells use different synaptic sites for global feedforward and local feedback signaling

In the outer plexiform layer (OPL) of the mouse retina, two types of cone photoreceptors (cones) provide input to more than a dozen types of cone bipolar cells (CBCs). This transmission is modulated by a single horizontal cell (HC) type, the only interneuron in the outer retina. Horizontal cells form feedback synapses with cones and feedforward synapses with CBCs. However, the exact computational role of HCs is still debated. Along with performing global signaling within their laterally coupled network, HCs also provide local, cone-specific feedback. Specifically, it has not been clear which synaptic structures HCs use to provide local feedback to cones and global forward signaling to CBCs. Here, we reconstructed in a serial block-face electron microscopy volume the dendritic trees of five HCs as well as cone axon terminals and CBC dendrites to quantitatively analyze their connectivity. In addition to the fine HC dendritic tips invaginating cone axon terminals, we also identified “bulbs”, short segments of increased dendritic diameter on the primary dendrites of HCs. These bulbs are located well below the cone axon terminal base and make contact to other cells mostly identified as other HCs or CBCs. Using immunolabeling we show that HC bulbs express vesicular gamma-aminobutyric acid transporters and co-localize with GABA receptor γ2 subunits. Together, this suggests the existence of two synaptic strata in the mouse OPL, spatially separating cone-specific feedback and feedforward signaling to CBCs. A biophysics-based computational model of a HC dendritic branch supports the hypothesis that the spatial arrangement of synaptic contacts allows simultaneous local feedback and global feedforward signaling

Crossing borders of material science – a new approach of aerogel preparation for electron microscopy

A new method for the embedding and preparation of organic aerogels for electron mciroscopic Analysis like Crosssectioning, Lamella preparation, FIB-Tomography and Transmissio Electron Microscop