Abstract
Correlated experimental and simulation studies on the modulation of Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP) in Au/VO2 bilayers are presented. The modification of the SPP wave vector by the thermally-induced insulator-to-metal phase transition (IMT) in VO2 was investigated by measuring the optical reflectivity of the sample. Reflectivity changes are observed for VO2 when transitioning between the insulating and metallic states, enabling modulation of the SPP in the Au layer by the thermally induced IMT in the VO2 layer. Since the IMT can also be optically induced using ultrafast laser pulses, we postulate the viability of SPP ultrafast modulation for sensing or control.
Highlights
Current interest in Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP) technology is focused on the development of nanoscale optical devices to control the propagation of light in sub-wavelength geometries [1,2,3,4]
The modification of the SPP wave vector by the thermallyinduced insulator-to-metal phase transition (IMT) in VO2 was investigated by measuring the optical reflectivity of the sample
Reflectivity changes are observed for VO2 when transitioning between the insulating and metallic states, enabling modulation of the SPP in the Au layer by the thermally induced IMT in the VO2 layer
Summary
Current interest in SPP technology is focused on the development of nanoscale optical devices to control the propagation of light in sub-wavelength geometries [1,2,3,4]. SPPs enhance the local optical field intensity in the region of sub-wavelength structures [10], producing a strong non-linear effect, allowing for new ways to control light propagation. To overcome the difference in wave vectors, k|| can be increased to match ksp by using optical couplers such as a prism in the socalled Kretschmann configuration or by using diffraction gratings [11]. The SPP is observed as a sharp minimum in the m = 0 order reflection when the angle of incidence satisfies Eq (1) Note that in this equation all three vectors – k||, ksp, and g – must be collinear; the direction of the grating grooves must be perpendicular to the plane of incidence and the illuminating light must be p-polarized (Fig. 1(b)) This is the configuration that we used in the experiments presented here. Combinations of nanostructured noble metals and VO2 layers have been studied and reported in recent times [13, 14], here we present the first correlated experimental investigation and simulations of SPPs on Au gratings patterned onto a VO2 thin film enabling tailoring such structures for greatest benefit
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