Permittivity Of Metal Research Articles

Highly efficient all-optical diode action based on light-tunneling heterostructures

We theoretically investigate the feasibility of constructing compact and highly efficient all-optical diodes (AODs) based on light tunneling mechanism in heterostructures. Due to light tunneling behaviors in heterostructures with one-dimensional photonic crystals (1D PC) and lossy metallic film, not only very large nonlinear permittivity of metal can be utilized sufficiently but also the structures with strongly nonreciprocal electric field distributions can be constructed. Finally we design a composite structure consisting of 1D PC-metal heterostructures to achieve the optimal unidirectional light transmission with 0.984 transmission contrasts, 42% transmission and 0.93 GW/cm(2) operating light power at working wavelength 557.2nm.

Universal scaling of local plasmons in chains of metal spheres

The position, width, extinction, and electric field of localized plasmon modes in closely-coupled linear chains of small spheres are investigated. A dipole-like model is presented that separates the universal geometric factors from the specific metal permittivity. An electrostatic surface integral method is used to deduce universal parameters that are confirmed against results for different metals (bulk experimental Ag, Au, Al, K) calculated using retarded vector spherical harmonics and finite elements. The mode permittivity change decays to an asymptote with the number of particles in the chain, and changes dramatically from 1/f(3) to 1/f(1/2) as the gap fraction (ratio of gap between spheres to their diameter), f, gets smaller. Scattering increases significantly with closer coupling. The mode sharpness, strength and electric field for weakly retarded calculations are consistent with electrostatic predictions once the effect of radiative damping is accounted for.

Thermal Casimir interaction between two magnetodielectric plates

We investigate the thermal Casimir interaction between two magnetodielectric plates made of real materials. On the basis of the Lifshitz theory, it is shown that for diamagnets and for paramagnets in the broad sense (with exception of ferromagnets) the magnetic properties do not influence the magnitude of the Casimir force. For ferromagnets, taking into account the realistic dependence of magnetic permeability on frequency, we conclude that the impact of magnetic properties on the Casimir interaction arises entirely from the contribution of the zero-frequency term in the Lifshitz formula. The computations of the Casimir free energy and pressure are performed for the configurations of two plates made of ferromagnetic metals (Co and Fe), for one plate made of ferromagnetic metal and the other of nonmagnetic metal (Au), for two ferromagnetic dielectric plates (on the basis of polystyrene), and for a ferromagnetic dielectric plate near a nonmagnetic metal plate. The dielectric permittivity of metals is described using both the Drude and the plasma model approaches. It is shown that the Casimir repulsion through the vacuum gap can be realized in the configuration of a ferromagnetic dielectric plate near a nonmagnetic metal plate described by the plasma model. In all cases considered, the respective analytical results in the asymptotic limit of large separations between the plates are obtained. The impact of the magnetic phase transition through the Curie temperature on the Casimir interaction is considered. In conclusion, we propose several experiments allowing to determine whether the magnetic properties really influence the Casimir interaction and to independently verify the Drude and plasma model approaches to the thermal Casimir force.

Trapping light in plasmonic waveguides

We present comprehensive case studies on trapping of light in plasmonic waveguides, including the metal-insulator-metal (MIM) and insulator-metal-insulator (IMI) waveguides. Due to the geometrical symmetry, the guided modes are classified into the anti-symmetric and symmetric modes. For the lossless case, where the relative electric permittivity of metal (epsilon(m)) and dielectric (epsilon(d)) are purely real, we define rho as rho = -epsilon(m)/epsilon(d). It is shown that trapping of light occurs in the following cases: the anti-symmetric mode in the MIM waveguide with 1 < rho < 1.28, the symmetric mode in the MIM waveguide with rho <<1, and the symmetric mode in the IMI waveguide with rho <1 . The physical interpretation reveals that these conditions are closely connected with the field distributions in the core and the cladding. Various mode properties such as the number of supported modes and the core width for the mode cut off are also presented.

Plasmonic States From Visible Light to Microwaves

Plasmonics is a phenomenon often considered in the visible light and near infrared, whereas typical metal waveguide modes are studied in the microwave regime. We demonstrate how plasmonic modes become conventional waveguide modes as the frequency varies from visible light to microwaves. In particular, given the metal permittivity at microwaves, the plasmonic dispersion becomes the conventional waveguide dispersion. Moreover, the surface plasmon dispersion at a single metal/insulator boundary can be extracted over a metal/insulator/metal (MIM) heterostructure if the metal-to-metal spacing is taken infinite. In doing so, the coupling effect of plasmonic modes is clearly revealed. As the symmetric coupled plasmon mode is known to correspond to the TEM (TM0) mode, we found that the antisymmetric coupled surface plasmon mode is essentially related to the TM1 mode.

Solving the problem of diffraction of an optical-band electromagnetic wave by metal nanostructured aperture arrays with the use of the method of impedance boundary conditions

The problem of diffraction of an optical wave by a 2D periodic metal aperture array with square, circular, and ring apertures is solved with allowance for the finite permittivity of a metal in the optical band. The correctness of the obtained results is verified through comparison with experimental data. It is shown that the transmission coefficient can be substantially greater than the corresponding value reached in the case of diffraction by a grating in a perfectly conducting screen.

Acoustic metamaterial with negative modulus

We present experimental and theoretical results on an acoustic metamaterial thatexhibits a negative effective modulus in a frequency range from 0 to 450 Hz. Aone-dimensional acoustic metamaterial with an array of side holes on a tube was fabricated.We observed that acoustic waves above 450 Hz propagated well in this structure,but no sound below 450 Hz passed through. The frequency characteristics of themetamaterial has the same form as that of the permittivity in metals due to theplasma oscillation. We also provide a theory to explain the experimental results.

Optical performance and metallic absorption in nanoplasmonic systems

Optical metrics relating to metallic absorption in representative plasmonic systems are surveyed, with a view to developing heuristics for optimizing performance over a range of applications. We use the real part of the permittivity as the independent variable; consider strengths of particle resonances, resolving power of planar lenses, and guiding lengths of planar waveguides; and compare nearly-free-electron metals including Al, Cu, Ag, Au, Li, Na, and K. Whilst the imaginary part of metal permittivity has a strong damping effect, field distribution is equally important and thus factors including geometry, real permittivity and frequency must be considered when selecting a metal. Al performs well at low permittivities (e.g. sphere resonances, superlenses) whereas Au & Ag only perform well at very negative permittivities (shell and rod resonances, LRSPP). The alkali metals perform well overall but present engineering challenges.

Refraction angles and transmission rates of polarized superluminal radiation

Abstract The propagation of superluminal waves in dispersive media is investigated, in particular the refraction at surfaces of discontinuity in layered dielectrics. The negative mass-square of the tachyonic modes is manifested in the transmission and reflection coefficients, and the polarization of the incident waves (TE, TM, or longitudinal) can be determined from the refraction angles. The conditions for total internal reflection in terms of polarization and tachyon mass are derived. Brewster angles can be used to discriminate longitudinal from transversal incidence. Superluminal transmission through dielectric boundary layers is studied, and the dependence of the intensity maxima on the transversal and longitudinal refractive indices of the layer is analyzed. Estimates of the tachyonic plasma frequency and permittivity of metals are given. The integral version of the tachyonic Maxwell equations is stated, boundary conditions at the surfaces of discontinuity are derived for transversal and longitudinal wave propagation, and singular surface fields and currents are pointed out. The spectral maps of three TeV γ-ray sources associated with supernova remnants, which have recently been obtained with imaging atmospheric Cherenkov detectors, are fitted with tachyonic cascade spectra. The transversal and longitudinal polarization components are disentangled in the spectral maps, and the thermodynamic parameters of the shock-heated ultra-relativistic electron plasma generating the tachyon flux are extracted from the cascade fits.

Effect of metal permittivity on resonant properties of terahertz metamaterials

We investigate the effect of metal permittivity on resonant transmission of metamaterials by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. Our experimental results on double split-ring resonators made from different metals confirm the recent numerical simulations [Phys. Rev. E 65, 036622 (2002)] that metamaterials exhibit permittivity-dependent resonant properties. In the terahertz regime, the measured inductive-capacitive resonance is found to strengthen with a higher ratio of the real to the imaginary parts of metal permittivity, and this remains consistent at various metal thicknesses. Furthermore, we found that metamaterials made even from a generally poor metal become highly resonant owing to a drastic increase in the value of the permittivity at terahertz frequencies.

Subwavelength imaging with anisotropic structure comprising alternately layered metal and dielectric films

Subwavelength imaging can be obtained with alternately layered metallodielectric films structure, even when the permittivity of metal and dielectric are not matched. This occurs as the effective transversal permittivity tends to be zero or the vertical one approaches infinity, depending on the permittivity value of the utilized dielectric and metal material. Evanescent waves can be amplified through the structure, but not in a manner of fully compensating the exponentially decaying property in dielectric. Numerical illustration of subwavelength imaging is presented for variant configuration of anisotropic permittivity with finite layer number of metallodielectric films.

Analysis of Smith-Purcell radiation in optical region

Smith-Purcell radiation (SPR), emitted when an electron beam is traveling above a metallic grating, has attracted a lot of attention as a source of electromagnetic (EM) radiation in the millimeter to visible spectrum. We conducted a theoretical investigation of SPR in the optical region using a two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The permittivity of metal was represented using the Drude model. During the simulation, we observed three types of EM radiations when an electron bunch passes above a metal grating. We think these three types of EM radiation were basic SPR, original surface plasmon polariton (SPP), and mimic-SPP, caused by the periodic grating structure. Our observations were in accordance with analytical models of original SPP and mimic-SPP EM radiation.

Description of dispersion properties of metals by means of the critical points model and application to the study of resonant structures using the FDTD method

Using a combination of Drude and critical points models, we show that the permittivity of several metals can be more efficiently described than using the well-known Drude–Lorentz model. The numerical implementation in a finite-difference time-domain code together with a non-uniform grid enables the study of thin metallic intermediate layers often neglected in simulations but found in realistic resonant structures.

Crystalline structure’s influence on the near-field optical properties of single plasmonic nanowires

The finite difference time domain method is employed to study the crystalline structure’s influence on the propagation of a local excitation along metallic nanowires of subwavelength cross section. The metallic nanowires are elongated cylinders deposited on a transparent substrate. A tightly focused gaussian beam illuminates one end of the nanowires. According to recent experimental studies, the authors show that the propagation length of the localized surface plasmon excitations depends on the crystalline structure of the nanowire. Thus, they are able to determine the effective permittivity of metals in such a nanostructure versus its crystalline properties. The authors also demonstrate that the field of optical information transport could greatly benefit from the care of the subwavelength optical waveguide’s crystallinity.

PROPAGATION PROPERTIES OF THE SPP MODES IN NANOSCALE NARROW METALLIC GAP, CHANNEL, AND HOLE GEOMETRIES

The propagation properties of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) modes in nanoscale narrow metallic structures: gap, channel, and rectangular-hole waveguides, are analyzed by the complex effective dielectric constant approximation. The results show that all the SPP modes exist below the critical frequency where the real part of metal permittivity is negative unity. It is found that both cutoff frequency and cutoff height exist in channel waveguide and rectangularhole waveguide. The channel and rectangular-hole waveguides have different propagation properties at cutoffs due to their different cutoff conditions. Compared with the gap waveguide, the channel waveguide has shorter propagation length and better confinement when the operation frequency is near the critical frequency, but has longer propagation length and worse confinement when the operation frequency is far from the critical frequency. Among the three waveguides, the rectangular-hole waveguide has the best confinement factor and the shortest propagation length. The comprehensive analysis for the gap, channel, and rectangular-hole waveguides can provide some guidelines in the design of subwavelength optical devices.

Influence of interband electronic transitions on the optical absorption in metallic nanoparticles

Electronic interband transitions influence the surface plasmon resonance in metallic nanoparticles significantly. We derive expressions for the resonance frequency, the bandwidth and the maximum of the light absorption cross section of noble metal nanoparticles, taking into account the interband transitions in the dielectric function. We propose a simple method for determining the width of the plasmon resonance based on an analysis of the dielectric permittivity of the constituent metal.

Nonzeroth-order anomalous optical transparency in modulated metal films owing to excitation of surface plasmon polaritons: An analytic approach

The problem of anomalous light tunneling through periodically modulated metal films is examined in a purely analytical approach. The approach uses large magnitude of the dielectric permittivity of metals in the visible and near-infrared (it is equivalent to that resulting in the Leontovich boundary conditions for semi-infinite problems). It is shown that the anomalous transparency recently discovered experimentally is caused by the excitation of single-or double-boundary surface plasmon polaritons due to film modulation. Dependences of the resonance transparency on parameters of the problem are analyzed in detail, and the optimum parameters (optimal layer thickness and optimal modulation amplitude) corresponding to extreme values of the transmittance of both zero and nonzero diffraction orders have been found. Classifying the possible types of resonances has allowed the identification of special and nontrivial features of the effect. In particular, we predict strong nonzeroth-order anomalous transparency.

Transmittance and resonance tunneling of the optical fields in the microspherical metal-dielectric structures

We have numerically studied the transmittance of the metallo-dielectric spherical structure deposited on a microsphere in a frequency range where the dielectric permittivity of metal is negative. We have found an equidistant spectrum of the resonant peaks of almost completely transmittency. The position of the peaks is defined by the thickness of the dielectric layer, and the width of peaks sharply decreases with increases thickness of the metallic layer. We have explored the radial distribution of the electromagnetic field in such a stack and the spectrum of the eigenfrequencies. The amplitude of the field in the dielectric layers may exceed on 1 to 2 orders of magnitude the value of a field in the output of the structure. Such an effect opens the opportunity to use the microspheres coating by metallo-dielectric multilayers for an effective surface harmonic generation in the optical range and for a high-resolution frequency conversion in the bands of such resonances.

Zero permittivity materials: Band gaps at the visible

We theoretically discuss the possibility of having materials with zero effective permittivity that would create band gaps in a wide range of frequencies up to the visible. The physical realization of these materials is also discussed in terms of embedding metallic nanoparticles and nanowires in a dielectric medium. In the limit of long wavelengths, these composites will behave like a homogeneous medium with zero permittivity that will completely reflect electromagnetic waves. We present transmittivity calculations by using finite-difference time domain for periodic structures that proves the concept and shows the validity of the long wavelength approximation. The striking result is that the cutoff frequency ωc is determined by the lattice parameter of the composite. By properly choosing the lattice constant of the composite and permittivity of metal and dielectric constituents, we can have full band gaps at any frequency range but especially in the visible.

Excitation of surface plasma waves over metallic surfaces by lasers and electron beams

A laser incident on a metal film (deposited on a glass substrate) from the glass side at a specific angle of incidence, excites a surface plasma wave (SPW) at the metal-free space interface. The ratio of the SPW field to the laser field increases with the laser spot size b attaining a value much greater than one at b>exp(2w/spl alpha//c) where a is the film thickness and /spl omega/ is the laser frequency. The SPW (/spl omega/, k/sub z/,) can also he excited by a relativistic electron beam, propagating parallel to the interface in the free space region, via Cerenkov interaction when beam energy /spl epsiv/b=(|/spl epsiv/|-1)mc/sup 2/ where /spl epsiv/ is the effective metal permittivity, and mc/sup 2/ is the electron rest mass energy. When the surface has a ripple of wave number k/sub 0/, the SPW (/spl omega/, k/sub zz/) can be excited at lower beam energy via sideband coupling, /spl omega/=(k/sub zz/+k/sub 0/)v/sub b/ where v/sub b/z/spl circ/ is the beam velocity. In both cases, however, the positioning of the beam in the close proximity of the interface is required. The scheme is useful for the generation of wavelengths longer than 1 /spl mu/m.