Nonlinear optical properties of metal-quantum-dot composites synthesized by ion implantation

Abstract

Over a decade ago, it was demonstrated that composites comprising metal clusters embedded in dielectric hosts could be synthesized by ion implantation. The optical properties of these metal-cluster composites are dominated by two phenomena which alter the susceptibilities from those of bulk metals: One is a classical field enhancement effect, dielectric confinement, which leads to the characteristic surface plasmon resonance of the metal clusters seen in absorption spectra. The other effect is quantum confinement of the conduction-band electrons which enhances the nonlinear susceptibility of the metal clusters for diameters smaller than about 10 nm and makes them behave as quantum dots with electronic properties which approximate those of independent electrons confined in a spherical potential well. This paper reviews our studies of the nonlinear optical behavior of quantum-dot composites synthesized by ion implantation. We also consider the potential of these quantum-dot composites as materials for nonlinear waveguide devices.