Resonance-enhanced optical annealing of silicon nanowires

Abstract

We consider the visible-light absorption by Si nanowires. Because of the cylindrical geometry of the nanowire, there is an $S$-wave resonance mode with $m=0$, which greatly enhances the visible-light absorption of Si nanowire with diameters of about $20\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. The energy dissipations by thermal radiation and heat convection are also discussed. Our results give a quantitative explanation using electromagnetic theory of recent experimental phenomena that Si nanowires can ignite in air after a photographic flash.