Excitation Of Surface Plasmon Polaritons Research Articles

Near-field control of gold nanostructure under joint action of surface plasmon polariton and incident light

Localized surface plasmon (LSP) generated by nanostructure subjected to the excitation of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) possesses stronger near-field enhancement and special spectral and dynamic responses, thereby providing a new idea for exploring the interaction between light and matter. Meanwhile, this scheme can also release the signal background noise and structural thermal effect, and improve the performances of plasmonic components and sensing detectors based on LSP. However, the current research in this aspect is still insufficient. In this paper, we investigate the near-field characteristics of a plasmon composite structure composed of plasmon focusing lens and gold nanorod under the excitation of dual-beam by using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The result shows that the near-field intensity control on the upper surface and in the gap position of the nanorod can be achieved by adjusting the relative time delay between the first light beam (used to excite SPP) and the second light beam (used to excite LSP). Specifically, the maximum adjustment range of the near-field intensity corresponding to 770 nm resonant mode in the gap position is about 23, and the adjustment period is about 2.4 fs. In a resonant mode dominated by SPP at a wavelength of 999 nm, the adjustment range of near-field intensity is as small as 6, and the adjustment period is about 4 fs. On the upper surface of the structure, the adjustment range of the near-field intensities of the two resonant modes (719 nm and 802 nm) are basically the same (about 15), and their adjustment periods are 2.4 fs and 2.8 fs. The achievement of the near field control is attributed to the coherent superposition of SPP-excited LSP with light-excited LSP. In addition, the dephasing time of the coupling field is investigated by using a quasi- normal mode. It is found that the nanorod structure will correspond to different dephasing time under different relative time delay between two excitation light beams. Specifically, for the time delay of 0.72 fs (Δ<i>t</i> = 0.72 fs), the corresponding dephasing times for both modes are the same (6.0 fs). For Δ<i>t</i> = 1.92 fs, the dephasing time of the longer-wavelength mode is 7.1 fs, and the one of the shorter-wavelength mode is 5.8 fs. We attribute the difference in dephasing time to different coupling strengths between the two modes at different delay times. This study may further promote the application of plasmons in the fields of surface-enhanced Raman scattering and plasmon assisted catalysis.

МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЕ ВОЗБУЖДЕНИЯ ПОВЕРХНОСТНЫХ ПЛАЗМОН-ПОЛЯРИТОНОВ В ПРЯМОУГОЛЬНОМ НАНОРЕЗОНАТОРЕ НА ОСНОВЕ ЗОЛОТА

This paper considers the modeling of surface plasmon polaritons excitation in a limited nanostructure on the basis of a two-dimensional area discrete model, the area interacts with the oscillator. The nanostructure is a rectangle defined on the metal surface at the interface of the gold–silicon oxide, the surface plasmon–polaritons are excited by an electromagnetic radiation point source located above the metal surface. The dynamics of radiation point source is described by a discrete version of the Van der Pol equation with a small nonlinearity of the source parameters. The parameters of the goldsilicon oxide structure (the wave phase speed, the radiation source frequency, the characteristic time in the system, etc.) will be received from the dispersion relation for surface plasmon–polaritons at a single metal–dielectric interface. The distributions of the wave field in the structure will be analyzed at different positions of the point oscillator and different coupling coefficients of the wave field with the oscillators. The resonant wave field mode composition at different positions of the point oscillator and different coupling coefficients will be found using the two-dimensional Fourier transform of the wave field, the time evolution of excited modes of the wave field amplitudes will be also analyzed. In conclusion, the paper gives applicability limits of the considered model for studying the surface plasmon polaritons excitation in a limited nanostructure.

Plasmonic lithography fast imaging model based on the decomposition machine learning method.

Plasmonic lithography can make the evanescent wave at the mask be resonantly amplified by exciting surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and participate in imaging, which breaks through the diffraction limit in conventional lithography. It provides a reliable technical way for the study of low-cost, large-area and efficient nanolithography technology. This paper introduces the characteristics of plasmonic lithography, the similarities and the differences with traditional DUV projection lithography. By comparing and analyzing the already existed fast imaging model of mask diffraction near-field (DNF) of DUV/EUV lithography, this paper introduces the decomposition machine learning method of mask diffraction near-field into the fast imaging of plasmonic lithography. A fast imaging model of plasmonic lithography for arbitrary two-dimensional pattern is proposed for the first time. This model enables fast imaging of the input binary 0&1 matrix of the mask directly to the light intensity distribution of photoresist image (PRI). The illumination method employs the normal incidence with x polarization, the normal incidence with y polarization and the quadrupole illumination with TM polarization respectively. The error and the operating efficiency between this fast imaging model and the rigorous electromagnetic model is compared. The test results show that compared with the rigorous electromagnetic computation model, the fast imaging model can greatly improve the calculation efficiency and maintain high accuracy at the same time, which provides great conditions for the development of computational lithography such as SMO/OPC for plasmonic lithography technology.

The Effect of Relative In-Plane Twisting in Graphene Bilayer on Sensing Using Surface Plasmon Resonance

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is generally observed by the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons on the metal (Au/Ag) surface. In order to utilize the SPR phenomenon for sensing application, the metal surface is functionalized with suitable ligands. Although such functionalization can enhance the specific adsorption capability of the sensor however due to the large thickness of the ligands, the plasmonic field of the metal surface becomes less sensitive towards the adsorption of analytes. In the next generation SPR-based sensor, graphene can be utilized not only as plasmonic material but also as a suitable ligand for attracting analytes through π-π interaction. In this article, we present our theoretical simulation studies on the observation of the SPR phenomenon using graphene monolayer (MLG), bilayer graphene (BLG), and in-plane twisted layers of BLG (T-BLG) as plasmonic materials deposited over zinc-selenide substrate. The Kretschmann configuration under wavelength interrogation setup was simulated, and SPR wavelength for graphene systems/water interface was estimated. The bio-sensing simulation was performed, and the sensing parameters viz. sensitivity, figure-of-merit (FOM), and plasmonic field for different graphene systems were obtained. Interestingly, the excellent sensing parameters were found in T-BLG system with relative in-plane twist angle near to magic angle viz. 1°. The enhancement is due to strong coupling between the layers twisted at the magic angle. This study demonstrates that the MLG, BLG and T-BLG can be employed as a standalone layer system for not only the generation of plasmonic fields but also enhanced sensing due to its intrinsic interactions with bio-analytes.

Sensitivity Optimization of Au/Ti Based-SPR Sensor by Controlling Light Incident Wavelength for Gas Sensing Application

Exposure to harmful gases may cause health problems like bone marrow deficiency, which eventually drops the number of red blood cells, causing anemia and many other dangerous diseases. This work was carried out to study the potential development of a highly sensitive Kretschmann-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for gas sensing applications using hybrid thin films of gold/titanium (Au/Ti). To optimize the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP), the light incident wavelength was varied from visible to infrared spectra. The thickness of Au thin film with a refractive index of n= 0.1758 + 3.4101k was fixed at 50 nm. Meanwhile, the thicknesses of Ti were controlled between 1 nm to 5 nm to optimize the SPR signal. Four different types of gas samples, such as benzene, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, were exposed to the sensor's surface. The proposed Au/Ti-based SPR sensor with thicknesses of Ti within 1 nm to 5 nm using visible and IR wavelengths able to detect various types of gaseous. Apparently, the deployment of infrared wavelength (λ=1550 nm) at Ti thickness of 3 nm resulted in the highest sensitivity up to 2412.06°/RIU and showed excellent selectivity to differentiate different types of gases. In conclusion, Au/Ti thin films are promising hybrid materials for gas sensing applications. Obviously, the sensor's sensitivity with total hybrid thin films of 53 nm was successfully enhanced as additional material, Ti, coated on the Au thin film's surface.

Influence of Plasma Treatment Parameters on the Structural-Phase Composition, Hardness, Moisture-Resistance, and Raman-Enhancement Properties of Nitrogen-Containing Titanium Dioxide.

The paper shows, for the first time, the prospects of treatment with a quasi-equilibrium low-temperature nitrogen plasma in an open atmosphere for the formation of super-hard, super-hydrophobic TiN/TiO2 composite coatings with pronounced Raman-enhancement properties. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Raman spectroscopy, as well as the analysis of hardness and moisture-resistance properties, are used as analytical research methods. During plasma treatment of titanium films on sapphire with a mass average temperature of 4-6 kK, an X-ray amorphous hydrophilic titanium oxide film with a low nitrogen content is formed. The nitrogen content in titanium oxide films increases with increasing treatment temperature up to 6-7 kK. In this case, an X-ray amorphous hydrophobic film is formed. With a further increase in temperature to 7-10 kK, a TiN/TiO2 composite structure based on polycrystalline rutile is formed with increased hydrophobicity and pronounced Raman enhancement properties due to the effective excitation of surface plasmon polaritons. The presence of the crystalline phase increases the dephasing time, which determines the quality of the resonance and the achievable amplification of the electromagnetic field near the TiN inclusions. All treated films on sapphire have a super-hardness above 25 GPa (Vickers hardness test) due to high grain size, the presence of nitrogen-containing inclusions concentrated along grain boundaries, and compressive stresses.

Mechanism of nanostructure processing on Au and Ag nano-film by a nanosecond laser illuminating cantilevered scanning near-field optical microscopy tip.

Nanostructure processing by a laser illuminating cantilevered scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) tip is a novel technology that has received extensive attention from researchers. In this paper, theoretical investigations of the mechanism for nanostructure fabrication on Au and Ag nano-film by this technology are realized by the finite element method. The light field intensity and temperature distribution on Au and Ag surfaces at the near-field of the SNOM tip apex after illumination is simulated. The results reveal that the laser is restricted and enhanced within the SNOM tip aperture during illumination. Locally excited surface plasmon polaritons, which induce near-field enhancement on the Au and Ag nano-film at the vicinity of the aperture, are significant for nanostructure fabrication. The impacts of several parameters such as aperture width w, gap between the apex and substrate g, and the initial electric field intensity |E0| of the laser on the temperature of the Au and Ag substrate surfaces during fabrication are deeply studied. It reveals that the surface temperature depends on both the enhancement of the light field intensity and the transmitted laser. The enhancement is dominant in affecting temperature when the gap is small, while the transmittance becomes the main factor influencing the surface temperature with the increase of the gap.

Excitation of Surface Plasmon Polaritons on Aluminum-Coated Diffraction Gratings Formed on an Inorganic Chalcogenide Photoresist: Influence of Profile Shape

Excitation of Surface Plasmon Polaritons on Aluminum-Coated Diffraction Gratings Formed on an Inorganic Chalcogenide Photoresist: Influence of Profile Shape

Ultrasensitive probing of plasmonic hot electron occupancies

Non-thermal and thermal carrier populations in plasmonic systems raised significant interest in contemporary fundamental and applied physics. Although the theoretical description predicts not only the energies but also the location of the generated carriers, the experimental justification of these theories is still lacking. Here, we demonstrate experimentally that upon the optical excitation of surface plasmon polaritons, a non-thermal electron population appears in the topmost domain of the plasmonic film directly coupled to the local fields. The applied all-optical method is based on spectroscopic ellipsometric determination of the dielectric function, allowing us to obtain in-depth information on surface plasmon induced changes of the directly related electron occupancies. The ultrahigh sensitivity of our method allows us to capture the signatures of changes induced by electron-electron scattering processes with ultrafast decay times. These experiments shed light on the build-up of plasmonic hot electron population in nanoscale media.

Strong optical coupling in metallo-dielectric hybrid metasurfaces.

Metasurfaces consisting of hybrid metal/dielectric nanostructures carry advantages of both material platforms. The hybrid structures can not only confine electromagnetic fields in subwavelength regions, but they may also lower the absorption losses. Such optical characteristics are difficult to realize in metamaterials with only metal or dielectric structures. Hybrid designs also expand the scope of material choices and the types of optical modes that can be excited in a metasurface, thereby allowing novel light matter interactions. Here, we present a metallo-dielectric hybrid metasurface design consisting of a high-index dielectric (silicon) nanodisk array on top of a metal layer (aluminum) separated by a buffer oxide (silica) layer. The dimensions of Si nanodisks are tuned to support anapole states and the period of the nanodisk array is designed to excite surface plasmon polariton (SPP) at the metal-buffer oxide interface. The physical dimensions of the Si nanodisk and the array periods are optimized to excite the anapole and the SPP at normal incidence of light in the visible-NIR (400-900 nm) wavelength range. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations show that, when the nanodisk grating is placed at a specific height (∼200 nm) from the metal surface, the two modes strongly couple at zero detuning of the resonances. The strong coupling is evident from the avoided crossing of the modes observed in the reflectance spectra and in the spectral profile of light absorption inside the Si nanodisk. A vacuum Rabi splitting of up to ∼ 129 meV is achievable by optimizing the diameters of Si nanodisk and the nanodisk array grating period. The proposed metasurface design is promising to realize open cavity strongly coupled optical systems operating at room temperatures.

Excitation of "forbidden" guided-wave plasmon polariton modes via direct reflectance using a low refractive index polymer coupling layer.

A surface plasmon polariton (SPP) is an excitation resulting from the coupling of light to a surface charge oscillation at a metal-dielectric interface. The excitation and detection of SPPs is foundational to the operating mechanism of a number of important technologies, most of which require SPP excitation via direct reflectance, commonly achieved via Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) using the Kretschmann configuration. As a result, the accessible modes are fundamentally high-loss “leaky modes,” presenting a critical performance barrier. Recently, our group provided the first demonstration of “forbidden,” or guided-wave plasmon polariton modes (GW-PPMs), collective modes of a MIM structure with oscillatory electric field amplitude in the central insulator layer with up to an order of magnitude larger propagation lengths than those of traditional SPPs. However, in that work, GW-PPMs were accessed by indirect reflectance using Otto configuration ATR, making them of limited applied relevance. In this paper, we demonstrate a technique for direct reflectance excitation and detection of GW-PPMs. Specifically, we replace the air gap used in traditional Otto ATR with a low refractive index polymer coupling layer, mirroring a technique previously demonstrated to access Long-Range Surface Plasmon Polariton modes. We fit experimental ATR data using a robust theoretical model to confirm the character of the modes, as well as to explore the potential of this approach to enable advantageous propagation lengths. The ability to excite GW-PPMs using a device configuration that does not require an air gap could potentially enable transformative performance enhancements in a number of critical technologies.

Relative humidity sensor based on a silver nano-grating made from DVD discs.

A relative humidity sensor based on a silver nano-grating was proposed. By stripping and cleaning commercially available CD and DVD discs, polycarbonate plates with different grating periods are obtained. These plates as templates are coated with a layer of sputtered silver film to form silver nano-gratings, which exhibit refractive index sensing sensitivities of 517nm/RIU and 742.9nm/RIU, respectively. The finite-difference time-domain simulation results conform the excited surface plasmon polariton modes and localized surface plasmon modes on the nano-grating. By spin coating a layer of humidity-sensitive porous silica with optimized thickness, the silver nano-grating shows a relative humidity detection sensitivity of 0.23nm/%RH.

Spin‐Controlled Reconfigurable Excitations of Spoof Surface Plasmon Polaritons by a Compact Structure

AbstractThe photonic spin Hall effect (SHE) arises from the spin–orbit interaction of lights and plays an important role in light–matter interactions. The phenomenon of spin‐momentum locking validates photonic SHE with unprecedented abilities in wave manipulation. Here, the directional coupling and spin‐momentum locking in spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPP) are demonstrated. The transverse spin angular momentum in SSPP is calculated using effective medium theory and the study shows the spin direction is inherently locked to the propagation direction, thus manifesting the spin–orbit interaction of electromagnetic (EM) waves. The spin‐momentum locking is further verified by projecting linearly and circularly polarized waves onto a scatterer‐SSPP structure. It is observed that the helicity of the incident EM wave governs the propagation direction of excited SSPP modes and the directional coupling originates from constructive and destructive interferences of two orthogonal modes. Reconfigurable transmissions of SSPPs are further demonstrated. The proposed design can find applications in reconfigurable sensors, antennas, and power dividers. This approach demonstrates the spin‐momentum locking in SSPPs and introduces new degrees of freedom to manipulate SSPPs by engineering the helicity and interference of EM waves.

Smart Modulators Based on Electric Field-Triggering of Surface Plasmon-Polariton for Active Plasmonics.

Design and properties of a plasmonic modulator in situ tunable by electric field are presented. Our design comprises the creation of periodic surface pattern on the surface of an elastic polymer supported by a piezo–substrate by excimer laser irradiation and subsequent selective coverage by silver by tilted angle vacuum evaporation. The structure creation was confirmed by AFM and FIB-SEM techniques. An external electric field is used for fine control of the polymer pattern amplitude, which tends to decrease with increasing voltage. As a result, surface plasmon–polariton excitation is quenched, leading to the less pronounced structure of plasmon response. This quenching was checked using UV–Vis spectroscopy and SERS measurements, and confirmed by numerical simulation. All methods prove the proposed functionality of the structures enabling the creation smart plasmonic materials for a very broad range of advanced optical applications.

Real-Time Convolutional Voltammetry Enhanced by Energetic (Hot) Electrons and Holes on a Surface Plasmon Waveguide Electrode.

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) propagating along a waveguide working electrode are sensitive to changes in the local refractive index, which follow changes in the concentration of reduced and oxidized species near the working electrode. The real-time response of the output optical power from a waveguide working electrode is proportional to the time convolution of the electrochemical current density, precluding the need to compute the latter a posteriori via numerical integration. Convolutional voltammetry yields complementary results to conventional voltammetry and can be used to determine the diffusion constant, bulk concentration, and the number of transferred electrons of electroactive species. The theoretical optical response of a waveguide working electrode is derived and validated experimentally via chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry measurements under low power SPP excitation, for various concentrations of potassium ferricyanide in potassium nitrate electrolyte at various scan rates. Increasing the SPP power induces a regime where the SPPs no longer act solely as a probe of electrochemical activity, but also as a pump creating energetic electrons and holes via absorption in the working electrode. In this regime, the transfer of energetic carriers (electrons and holes) to the redox species dominates the electrochemical current density, which becomes significantly enhanced relative to equilibrium conditions (low SPP power). In this regime the output optical power remains proportional to the time convolution of the current density, even with the latter significantly enhanced by the transfer of energetic carriers.

Resonant channeling of light near metal surface by passive and active silicon nanoparticles

We investigate the optical response of passive (homogeneous) and active (doped by a magnetic-dipole source) silicon nanospheres placed above the gold substrate supporting excitation and propagation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). In the case of the passive system, the influence of the particle electric and magnetic dipole resonances on the channeling of scattered light into the two channels: light-into-light and light-into-SPPs, is studied around the telecommunication wavelength range. Scattering efficiencies of both channels are analytically and numerically calculated and compared for different gaps between the nanosphere and gold substrate. Conditions, under which the resonant distribution of energy between SPPs and light channels can be approximately equal to each other, are revealed. In the case of an active system, associated with a magnetic dipole source embedded in a silicon resonator, two separate emission channels into light and into SPPs are considered as well. The radiation efficiency in each channel as a function of the gap is examined and compared. In particular, it is revealed the conditions when the efficiency of resonant light energy propagation along the two channels is practically equal to each other, and the Purcell factor achieves the value almost two times higher than for the case without the substrate. The obtained results elucidate the features introduced by the Mie dipole resonances of silicon nanospheres to control the light scattering (radiation) and the SPP excitation in dielectric/metal interface systems. The results obtained are perspectives for the development of new compact photonic and plasmonic devices operating at standard telecommunication wavelength ranges.

Photoinduced electric effects in various plasmonic materials

Photoinduced voltages associated with surface plasmon polariton excitations are studied both theoretically and experimentally in various plasmonic systems as the function of material, wavelength, and type of structure. Experimental photovoltage normalized to the absorbed power shows a general decrease upon an increase in the wavelength, enhancement in the nanostructured samples, and a strong variation in the magnitude as a function of the material, which are not in line with the theoretical predictions of the simple plasmonic pressure approach. The results can be used for clarification of the mechanisms and further development of an adequate theoretical approach to the plasmon drag effect.

Excitation of surface plasmon polaritons by diffraction-free and vector beams.

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are traditionally excited by plane waves within the Rayleigh range of a focused transverse-magnetic (TM) Gaussian beam. Here we investigate and confirm the coupling between SPPs and two-dimensional Gaussian and Bessel-Gauss wave packets, as well as one-dimensional light sheets and space-time wave packets. We encode the incoming wavefronts with spatially varying states of polarization; then we couple the respective TM components of radial and azimuthal vector beam profiles to confirm polarization-correlation and spatial-mode selectivity. Our results do not require material optimization or multi-dimensional confinement via periodically corrugated metal surfaces to achieve coupling at a greater extent, hereby outlining a pivotal, yet commonly overlooked, path towards the development of long-range biosensors and all-optical integrated plasmonic circuits.

Regular Periodic Surface Structures on Indium Tin Oxide Film Efficiently Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser Direct Writing with a Cylindrical Lens.

Regular laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) were efficiently fabricated on indium tin oxide (ITO) films by femtosecond laser direct writing with a cylindrical lens. It was found that randomly distributed nanoparticles and high spatial frequency LIPSSs (HSFL) formed on the surface after a small number of cumulative incident laser pulses per spot, and regular low spatial frequency LIPSSs (LSFL) appeared when more laser pulses accumulated. The mechanism of the transition was studied by real-time absorptance measurement and theoretical simulation. Results show that the interference between incident laser and surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) excited by random surface scatterers facilitates the formation of prototype LSFLs, which in turn enhances light absorption and SPP excitation following laser pulses. The effects of scanning velocity and laser fluence on LSFL quality were discussed in detail. Moreover, large-area extremely regular LSFL with a diameter of 30 mm were efficiently fabricated on an ITO film by femtosecond laser direct writing with the cylindrical lens. The fabricated LSFLs on the ITO film demonstrate vivid structural color. During LSFL processing, the decrease of ITO film thickness leads to the increase of near-infrared optical transmittance.

Tailored engineering of crystalline surface enabled by ion-irradiation-assisted femtosecond laser ablation

Ion irradiation and femtosecond laser ablation (FLA) are powerful technologies for micro-/nano-machining of transparent materials. In this work, we demonstrate selective surface engineering of optical crystal surface via ion irradiation and subsequent FLA, namely ion-irradiation-assisted FLA. Based on the material modification effects in the ion-irradiated layers, different types of surface structuring characterized by grooves, nanogratings or sub-micron tracks are selectively induced by FLA. It is revealed that the ion-electron interaction induced localized lattice defects and related property modulation in target crystal play important roles in the formation and evolution of laser ablation regimes. Furthermore, the formation process of high-spatial-frequency nanograting is illustrated with the periodical enhancement of local field through the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons, which is experimentally supported through the measurements of transmission electron microscope and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Our findings further clarify the ion- and laser-matter interactions and the correlation between these processes and surface modifications. The approach proposed in this work shows potential applications in the rapid fabrication of hybrid and versatile surface structures on crystalline materials.