Optically controlled magnetic-field etching on the nano-scale.

Takashi Yatsui,Daniel Bloch,Maiku Yamaguchi,Toshiki Tsuboi,Olivier Soppera,Satoshi Tojo,Katsuyuki Nobusada,Fabrice Stehlin

doi:10.1038/lsa.2016.54

Abstract

Electric and magnetic fields play an important role in both chemical and physical reactions. However, since the coupling efficiency between magnetic fields and electrons is low in comparison with that between electric fields and electrons in the visible wavelength region, the magnetic field is negligible in photo-induced reactions. Here, we performed photo-etching of ZrO2 nano-stripe structures, and identified an etching-property polarisation dependence. Specifically, the etching rate and etched profiles depend on the structure width. To evaluate this polarisation-dependent etching, we performed numerical calculations using a finite-difference time-domain method. Remarkably, the numerical results revealed that the polarisation-dependent etching properties were determined by the magnetic field distributions, rather than the electric field distributions. As nano-scale structures induce a localised magnetic field, the discovery of this etching dependence on the magnetic field is expected to introduce a new perspective on advanced nano-scale structure fabrication.

Highlights

Use of the near-field allows nano-scale imaging below the diffraction limit of light to be performed1
Detailed study of electric fields in nano-scale materials has allowed the magnetic permeability in these substances to be tuned, while the recently developed nano-scale periodic-structure fabrication method5 has realised the predictions of Veselago6
New phenomena have been observed in nano-scale materials as a result of adjustment of the magnetic permeability, the chemical and/or physical reactions within these substances are still determined by the electric field7

Summary

Introduction

Use of the near-field allows nano-scale imaging below the diffraction limit of light to be performed. Use of the near-field allows nano-scale imaging below the diffraction limit of light to be performed1 This technique has provided a means of visualising the point dipole in a single molecule, centre-of-mass wavefunctions of an exciton in a quantum dot, and molecular resolution imaging using pressure-assisted Raman imaging. Detailed study of electric fields in nano-scale materials has allowed the magnetic permeability in these substances to be tuned, while the recently developed nano-scale periodic-structure fabrication method has realised the predictions of Veselago. New phenomena have been observed in nano-scale materials as a result of adjustment of the magnetic permeability, the chemical and/or physical reactions within these substances are still determined by the electric field. The interaction of the magnetic field with the material excitation is considered to be negligible, because of the low coupling efficiency between magnetic fields and electrons

Methods

Results

Conclusion