Spatio-temporal second-order quantum correlations of surface plasmon polaritons

We present an experimental methodology to observe spatio-temporal second-order quantum coherence of surface plasmon polaritons which are emitted by nitrogen vacancy color centers attached at the apex of an optical tip. The approach relies on leakage radiation microscopy in the Fourier space and we use this approach to test wave-particle duality for surface plasmon polaritons

Single and dual fiber nano-tip optical tweezers: trapping and analysis

An original optical tweezers using one or two chemically etched fiber nano-tips is developed. We demonstrate optical trapping of 1 micrometer polystyrene spheres at optical powers down to 2 mW. Harmonic trap potentials were found in the case of dual fiber tweezers by analyzing the trapped particle position fluctuations. The trap stiffness was deduced using three different models. Consistent values of up to 1 fN/nm were found. The stiffness linearly decreases with decreasing light intensity and increasing fiber tip-to-tip distance

Plasmonic interferometry: probing launching dipoles in scanning-probe plasmonics

We develop a semi-analytical method for analyzing surface plasmon interferometry using near-field scanning optical sources. We compare our approach to Young double hole interferometry experiments using scanning tunneling microscope (STM) discussed in the literature and realize experiments with an aperture near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) source positioned near a ring like aperture slit milled in a thick gold film. In both cases the agreement between experiments and model is very good. We emphasize the role of dipole orientations and discuss the role of magnetic versus electric dipole contributions to the imaging process as well as the directionality of the effective dipoles associated with the various optical and plasmonic sources.Comment: To appear in Journal of Applied Physics (2014

Highly efficient singular surface plasmon generation by achiral apertures

We report a highly efficient generation of singular surface plasmon (SP) field by an achiral plasmonic structure consisting of $\Lambda$-shaped apertures. Our quantitative analysis based on leakage radiation microscopy (LRM) demonstrates that the induced spin-orbit coupling can be tuned by adjusting the apex angle of the $\Lambda$-shaped aperture. Specifically, the array of $\Lambda$-shaped apertures with the apex angle $60^\circ$ is shown to give rise to the directional coupling efficiency. The ring of $\Lambda$-shaped apertures with the apex angle $60^\circ$ realized to generate the maximum extinction ratio (ER=11) for the SP singularities between two different polarization states. This result provides a more efficient way for developing SP focusing and SP vortex in the field of nanophotonics such as optical tweezers

Directional and singular surface plasmon generation in chiral and achiral nanostructures demonstrated by Leakage Radiation Microscopy

In this paper, we describe the implementation of leakage radiation microscopy (LRM) to probe the chirality of plasmonic nanostructures. We demonstrate experimentally spin-driven directional coupling as well as vortex generation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) by nanostructures built with T-shaped and $\Lambda$- shaped apertures. Using this far-field method, quantitative inspections, including directivity and extinction ratio measurements, are achieved via polarization analysis in both image and Fourier planes. To support our experimental findings, we develop an analytical model based on a multidipolar representation of $\Lambda$- and T-shaped aperture plasmonic coupler allowing a theoretical explanation of both directionality and singular SPP formation. Furthermore, the roles of symmetry breaking and phases are emphasized in this work. This quantitative characterization of spin-orbit interactions paves the way for developing new directional couplers for subwavelength routing

Analysis of optical near-field energy transfer by stochastic model unifying architectural dependencies

We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate energy transfer mediated by optical near-field interactions in a multi-layer InAs quantum dot (QD) structure composed of a single layer of larger dots and N layers of smaller ones. We construct a stochastic model in which optical near-field interactions that follow a Yukawa potential, QD size fluctuations, and temperature-dependent energy level broadening are unified, enabling us to examine device-architecture-dependent energy transfer efficiencies. The model results are consistent with the experiments. This study provides an insight into optical energy transfer involving inherent disorders in materials and paves the way to systematic design principles of nanophotonic devices that will allow optimized performance and the realization of designated functions

Plasmon scattering from holes: from single hole scattering to Young's experiment

In this article, the scattering of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) into photons at holes is investigated. A local, electrically excited source of SPPs using a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) produces an outgoing circular plasmon wave on a thick (200 nm) gold film on glass containing holes of 250, 500 and 1000 nm diameter. Fourier plane images of the photons from hole-scattered plasmons show that the larger the hole diameter, the more directional the scattered radiation. These results are confirmed by a model where the hole is considered as a distribution of horizontal dipoles whose relative amplitudes, directions, and phases depend linearly on the local SPP electric field. An SPP-Young's experiment is also performed, where the STM-excited SPP-wave is incident on a pair of 1 $\mu$m diameter holes in the thick gold film. The visibility of the resulting fringes in the Fourier plane is analyzed to show that the polarization of the electric field is maintained when SPPs scatter into photons. From this SPP-Young's experiment, an upper bound of $\approx$ 200 nm for the radius of this STM-excited source of surface plasmon polaritons is determined

Quantum plasmonics: second-order coherence of surface plasmons launched by quantum emitters into a metallic film

We address the issue of the second-order coherence of single surface plasmons launched by a quantum source of light into extended gold films. The quantum source of light is made of a scanning fluorescent nanodiamond hosting five nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers. By using a specially designed microscopy that combines near-field optics with far-field leakage-radiation microscopy in the Fourier space and adapted spatial filtering, we find that the quantum statistics of the initial source of light is preserved after conversion to surface plasmons and propagation along the polycrystalline gold film.Comment: Second version with minor changes made to comply with Referees' comments. Editorially approved for publication in Phys. Rev. B on 22 June 201

Experimental demonstration of random walk by probability chaos using single photons

In our former work (Sci. Rep. 4: 6039, 2014), we theoretically and numerically demonstrated that chaotic oscillation can be induced in a nanoscale system consisting of quantum dots between which energy transfer occurs via optical near-field interactions. Furthermore, in addition to the nanoscale implementation of oscillators, it is intriguing that the chaotic behavior is associated with probability derived via a density matrix formalism. Indeed, in our previous work (Sci. Rep. 6: 38634, 2016) we examined such oscillating probabilities via diffusivity analysis by constructing random walkers driven by chaotically driven bias. In this study, we experimentally implemented the concept of probability chaos using a single-photon source that was chaotically modulated by an external electro-optical modulator that directly yielded random walkers via single-photon observations after a polarization beam splitter. An evident signature was observed in the resulting ensemble average of the time-averaged mean square displacement. Although the experiment involved a scaled-up, proof-of-concept model of a genuine nanoscale oscillator, the experimental observations clearly validate the concept of oscillating probability, paving the way toward future ideal nanoscale systems