Subradiant Modes Research Articles

Modulation of Fano resonances in symmetry-broken gold-SiO2-gold nanotube dimers

Fano resonances in the symmetry-broken gold-SiO2-gold (BGSG) nanotubes and the associated dimers have been investigated based on the finite element method. In the BGSG nanotube, the symmetry breaking induced the interactions of the inner gold core and outer gold nanoshell plasmons of all multipolar orders and hence the red-shifts of the plasmon resonance modes and the enhanced quadrupole mode peaks were observed. The interference of the quadrupole mode peak with the subradiant dipole mode caused a Fano-dip in the scattering spectrum. By increasing the core offset-value in the BGSG nanotube, the Fano dip with low energy showed a red-shift and became deeper. Unexpectedly the plasmon coupling between a GSG nanotube and a BGSG nanotube can lead to two strong Fano dips in the scattering spectra of the dimer. It was further noted that the thin side of the BGSG nanotube located at two sides of the dimer gap can lead to the strong near-field coupling between two BGSG nanotubes and hence a deeper and broader Fano dip.

Antenna-coupled microcavities for terahertz emission

We have investigated the capacitive coupling between dipolar antennas and metal-dielectric-metal wire microcavities with strong sub-wavelength confinement in the terahertz region. The coupling appears in reflectivity measurements performed on arrays of antenna-coupled elements, which display asymmetric Fano lineshapes. The experimental data are compared to a temporal coupled-mode theory and finite elements electromagnetic simulations. We show that the Fano interferences correspond to coupling between a subradiant mode (microcavity) and a superradiant mode (antennas). This phenomenon allows one to enhance and control the radiative coupling of the strongly confined mode with the vacuum. These concepts are very useful for terahertz optoelectronic devices based on deep-sub-wavelength active regions.

Multiple Magnetic Mode-Based Fano Resonance in Split-Ring Resonator/Disk Nanocavities

Plasmonic Fano resonance, enabled by the weak interaction between a bright super-radiant and a subradiant resonance mode, not only is fundamentally interesting, but also exhibits potential applications ranging from extraordinary optical transmission to biosensing. Here, we demonstrate strong Fano resonances in split-ring resonators/disk (SRR/D) nanocavities. The high-order magnetic modes are observed in SRRs by polarization-resolved transmission spectroscopy. When a disk is centered within the SRRs, multiple high-order magnetic modes are coupled to a broad electric dipole mode of SRR/D, leading to significant Fano resonance spectral features in near-IR regime. The strength and line shape of the Fano resonances are tuned through varying the SRR split-angle and interparticle distance between SRR and disk. Finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) simulations are conducted to understand the coupling mechanism, and the results show good agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, the coupled structure gives a sensitivity of ∼282 nm/RIU with a figure of merit ∼4.

Resonant Transparency and Non-Trivial Non-Radiating Excitations in Toroidal Metamaterials

Engaging strongly resonant interactions allows dramatic enhancement of functionalities of many electromagnetic devices. However, resonances can be dampened by Joule and radiation losses. While in many cases Joule losses may be minimized by the choice of constituting materials, controlling radiation losses is often a bigger problem. Recent solutions include the use of coupled radiant and sub-radiant modes yielding narrow asymmetric Fano resonances in a wide range of systems, from defect states in photonic crystals and optical waveguides with mesoscopic ring resonators to nanoscale plasmonic and metamaterial systems exhibiting interference effects akin to electromagnetically-induced transparency. Here we demonstrate theoretically and confirm experimentally a new mechanism of resonant electromagnetic transparency, which yields very narrow isolated symmetric Lorentzian transmission lines in toroidal metamaterials. It exploits the long sought non-trivial non-radiating charge-current excitation based on interfering electric and toroidal dipoles that was first proposed by Afanasiev and Stepanovsky in [J. Phys. A Math. Gen. 28, 4565 (1995)].

Organic magnetoresistance under resonant ac drive

We study the spin dynamics of an electron-hole pair in a random hyperfine magnetic field and an external field, B0, under a resonant drive with frequency omega0 = gamma B0. The fact that the pair decays by recombination exclusively from a singlet configuration, S, in which the spins of the pair-partners are entangled, makes this dynamics highly nontivial. Namely, as the amplitude, B1, of the driving field grows, mixing all of the triplet components, the long-living modes do not disappear, but evolve from T+, T- into (T+ +/- sqrt(2) T0 + T-)/2. Upon further increase of B1, the lifetime of the S-mode is cut in half, while the T0-mode transforms into an antisymmetric combination (T- - T-)/sqrt(2) and acquires a long lifetime, in full analogy to the superradiant and subradiant modes in the Dicke effect. Peculiar spin dynamics translates into a peculiar dependence on B1. In particular, at small B1, the radiation-induced correction to the current is linear in B1.

Turning the Corner: Efficient Energy Transfer in Bent Plasmonic Nanoparticle Chain Waveguides

For integrating and multiplexing of subwavelength plasmonic waveguides with other optical and electric components, complex architectures such as junctions with sharp turns are necessary. However, in addition to intrinsic losses, bending losses severely limit plasmon propagation. In the current work, we demonstrate that propagation of surface plasmon polaritons around 90° turns in silver nanoparticle chains occurs without bending losses. Using a far-field fluorescence method, bleach-imaged plasmon propagation (BlIPP), which creates a permanent map of the plasmonic near-field through bleaching of a fluorophore coated on top of a plasmonic waveguide, we measured propagation lengths at 633 nm for straight and bent silver nanoparticle chains of 8.0 ± 0.5 and 7.8 ± 0.4 μm, respectively. These propagation lengths were independent of the input polarization. We furthermore show that subradiant plasmon modes yield a longer propagation length compared to energy transport via excitation of super-radiant modes.

Refractive Index Sensing with Subradiant Modes: A Framework To Reduce Losses in Plasmonic Nanostructures

Plasmonic modes with long radiative lifetimes, subradiant modes, combine strong confinement of the electromagnetic energy at the nanoscale with a steep spectral dispersion, which makes them promising for biochemical sensors or immunoassays. Subradiant modes have three decay channels: Ohmic losses, their extrinsic coupling to radiation, and possibly their intrinsic dipole moment. In this work, the performance of subradiant modes for refractive index sensing is studied with a general analytical and numerical approach. We introduce a model for the impact that has different decay channels of subradiant modes on the spectral resolution and contrast. It is shown analytically and verified numerically that there exists an optimal value of the mode coupling for which the spectral dispersion of the resonance line shape is maximal. The intrinsic width of subradiant modes determines the value of the dispersion maximum and depends on the penetration of the electric field in the metallic nanostructure. A figure of merit, given by the ratio of the sensitivity to the intrinsic width, which are both intrinsic properties of subradiant modes, is introduced. This figure of merit can be directly calculated from the line shape in the far-field optical spectrum and accounts for the fact that both the spectral resolution and contrast determine the limit of detection. An expression for the intrinsic width of a plasmonic mode is derived and calculated from the line shape parameters and using perturbation theory. The method of analysis introduced in this work is illustrated for dolmen and heptamer nanostructures. Fano-resonant systems have the potential to act as very efficient refractive index sensing platforms compared to Lorentz-resonant systems, due to control of their radiative losses. This study paves the way toward sensitive nanoscale biochemical sensors and immunoassays with a low limit of detection and, in general, any nano-optical device where Ohmic losses limit the performance.

Excitation of Multiple Fano Resonances in Plasmonic Clusters with D2h Point Group Symmetry

Fano resonances in plasmonic nanostructures exhibit sharp resonance and strong light confinement. These properties are very useful for sensing applications, which rely on plasmon line shape engineering. Fano resonances in plasmonic clusters depend on structure symmetry, and this study provides a general understanding of Fano resonances in clusters with D2h symmetry. We show that, because of the excitation of B3u and B2u dark subradiant modes, four kinds of Fano resonances appear in the spectra for hexamers with D2h symmetry. When a central particle is introduced to form a heptamer, it is shown that, aside from influence on the resonant behaviors or appearance of an additional Fano resonance for a specific polarization, several hybridized dark subradiant modes are excited for both polarizations, and up to eight kinds of Fano resonances appear in the spectra. Plasmonic clusters with D2h symmetry are suitable for plasmon line shaping, and it is expected that these structures are useful for multiwavelength se...

Coherent Fano resonances in a plasmonic nanocluster enhance optical four-wave mixing

Plasmonic nanoclusters, an ordered assembly of coupled metallic nanoparticles, support unique spectral features known as Fano resonances due to the coupling between their subradiant and superradiant plasmon modes. Within the Fano resonance, absorption is significantly enhanced, giving rise to highly localized, intense near fields with the potential to enhance nonlinear optical processes. Here, we report a structure supporting the coherent oscillation of two distinct Fano resonances within an individual plasmonic nanocluster. We show how this coherence enhances the optical four-wave mixing process in comparison with other double-resonant plasmonic clusters that lack this property. A model that explains the observed four-wave mixing features is proposed, which is generally applicable to any third-order process in plasmonic nanostructures. With a larger effective susceptibility χ(3) relative to existing nonlinear optical materials, this coherent double-resonant nanocluster offers a strategy for designing high-performance third-order nonlinear optical media.

Mechanisms of Fano Resonances in Coupled Plasmonic Systems

Fano resonances in hybridized systems formed from the interaction of bright modes only are reported. Despite precedent works, we demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that Fano resonances can be obtained by destructive interference between two bright dipolar modes out of phase. A simple oscillator model is provided to predict and fit the far-field scattering. The predictions are verified with numerical calculations using a surface integral equation method for a wide range of geometrical parameters. The validity of the model is then further demonstrated with experimental dark-field scattering measurements on actual nanostructures in the visible range. A remarkable set of properties like crossings, avoided crossings, inversion of subradiant and superradiant modes and a plasmonic equivalent of a bound state in the continuum are presented. The nanostructure, that takes advantage of the combination of Fano resonance and nanogap effects, also shows high tunability and strong near-field enhancement. Our study provides a general understanding of Fano resonances as well as a simple tool for engineering their spectral features.

Signatures of Fano Interferences in the Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy and Cathodoluminescence of Symmetry-Broken Nanorod Dimers

Through numerical simulation, we predict the existence of the Fano interference effect in the electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and cathodoluminescence (CL) of symmetry-broken nanorod dimers that are heterogeneous in material composition and asymmetric in length. The differing selection rules of the electron probe in comparison to the photon of a plane wave allow for the simultaneous excitation of both optically bright and dark plasmons of each monomer unit, suggesting that Fano resonances will not arise in EELS and CL. Yet, interferences are manifested in the dimer's scattered near- and far-fields and are evident in EELS and CL due to the rapid π-phase offset in the polarizations between super-radiant and subradiant hybridized plasmon modes of the dimer as a function of the energy loss suffered by the impinging electron. Depending upon the location of the electron beam, we demonstrate the conditions under which Fano interferences will be present in both optical and electron spectroscopies (EELS and CL) as well as a new class of Fano interferences that are uniquely electron-driven and are absent in the optical response. Among other things, the knowledge gained from this work bears impact upon the design of some of the world's most sensitive sensors, which are currently based upon Fano resonances.

PIT-like effect in asymmetric and symmetric C-shaped metamaterials

We present asymmetric and symmetric couplings within a pair of C-shaped resonators (CSRs). The former shows that a typical and prominent plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) spectral response can be observed and it stems from asymmetrically coupled resonance (ACR) between the subradiant and superradiant modes due to exactly identical resonance frequency but different quality factors (Q-factor). The mechanism of such induced transparency is elucidated well by resonant hybridization and the induced currents within the CSRs. Simultaneously, we find that PIT-like effect can also be achieved in symmetric CSRs, symmetrically coupled resonance (SCR) between the subradiant and superradiant modes also give rise to transparency window. Essentially, the phase coupling of near-field, besides symmetry or asymmetry, is the crux of the PIT. Comparing the transparency window in asymmetric coupling, the PIT-like effect in symmetric coupling becomes less strong than the former. We consider that a broken symmetry is not the only prerequisite for PIT-like effect; but it plays an important role of prominent PIT-like transparency window. This not only sharpens our understanding of the existing concept, but also provides a profound insight into the plasmonic coherent interference in the near-field zone.

Fano-chain: the Fano resonances in a nanoparticles chain

We show that for a linear chain of nanoparticles the Fano resonances can be excited and tuned through particle number manipulation by adding or removing particles from the chain. Fano modes excited in the chain, the spectrally overlapped bright superradiant and dark subradiant modes, are presented with current flow pictures for the first time, which clearly reveal how each individual particle reacts to light and interacts with other particles in the chain. This work may help design new Fano resonances in plasmonic metamaterials and nanostructures.

Plasmon Transmutation: Inducing New Modes in Nanoclusters by Adding Dielectric Nanoparticles

Planar clusters of coupled plasmonic nanoparticles support nanoscale electromagnetic "hot spots" and coherent effects, such as Fano resonances, with unique near and far field signatures, currently of prime interest for sensing applications. Here we show that plasmonic cluster properties can be substantially modified by the addition of individual, discrete dielectric nanoparticles at specific locations on the cluster, introducing new plasmon modes, or transmuting existing plasmon modes to new ones, in the resulting metallodielectric nanocomplex. Depositing a single carbon nanoparticle in the junction between a pair of adjacent nanodisks induces a metal-dielectric-metal quadrupolar plasmon mode. In a ten-membered cluster, placement of several carbon nanoparticles in junctions between multiple adjacent nanoparticles introduces a collective magnetic plasmon mode into the Fano dip, giving rise to an additional subradiant mode in the metallodielectric nanocluster response. These examples illustrate that adding dielectric nanoparticles to metallic nanoclusters expands the number and types of plasmon modes supported by these new mixed-media nanoscale assemblies.

Excitation of a high-Q subradiant resonance mode in mirrored single-gap asymmetric split ring resonator terahertz metamaterials

We propose a mirrored arrangement of asymmetric single split ring resonators (ASRs) that dramatically enhances the quality factor of the inductive-capacitive resonance. In a regular non-mirrored arrangement, the surface current modes are all oriented in phase. Hence, light scattered by individual ASRs interferes constructively. In contrast, the proposed configuration sustains surface currents that are oppositely oriented for neighboring ASRs, in turn leading to the cancellation of the net dipole moment accompanied by destructive interference of the scattered fields. The proposed arrangement holds promise to suppress radiation losses in terahertz, microwave and infrared plasmonic metamaterials.

Transformation-Optics Description of Plasmonic Nanostructures Containing Blunt Edges/Corners: From Symmetric to Asymmetric Edge Rounding

The sharpness of corners/edges can have a large effect on the optical responses of metallic nanostructures. Here we deploy the theory of transformation optics to analytically investigate a variety of blunt plasmonic structures, including overlapping nanowire dimers and crescent-shaped nanocylinders. These systems are shown to support several discrete optical modes, whose energy and line width can be controlled by tuning the nanoparticle geometry. In particular, the necessary conditions are highlighted respectively for the broadband light absorption effect and the invisibility dips that appear in the radiative spectrum. More detailed discussions are provided especially with respect to the structures with asymmetric edge rounding. These structures can support additional subradiant modes, whose interference with the neighboring dipolar modes results in a rapid change of the scattering cross-section, similar to the phenomenon observed in plasmonic Fano resonances. Finite element numerical calculations are also performed to validate the analytical predictions. The physical insights into blunt nanostructures presented in this work may be of great interest for the design of broadband light-harvesting devices, invisible and noninvasive biosensors, and slowing-light devices.

Fano-Like Resonances in Asymmetric Homodimer of Gold Elliptical Nanowires

The Fano-like resonance properties of the asymmetric dimer for gold nanowires (GNWs) with elliptical section have been investigated based on the 2-D finite element method (2D-FEM). It is found that the reduced symmetry in the GNWs dimer will cause a distinct Fano dip in the absorption spectrum, which arises from the coherent coupling between the superradiant bright mode and the subradiant dark mode. With the increase in the rotation angle of one GNW, the Fano dip in the absorption of the asymmetric dimer enhances first and then reduces. We have further found that the Fano dip in the absorption becomes wider and deeper with the decrease in the separation between two GNWs, whereas the Fano minimum shows a distinct red shift. The tunability in Fano-like resonance of the asymmetric dimer for the GNWs may provide effective applications in sensing and plasmon-induced transparency.

Subgroup Decomposition of Plasmonic Resonances in Hybrid Oligomers: Modeling the Resonance Lineshape

Plasmonic resonances with a Fano lineshape observed in metallic nanoclusters often arise from the destructive interference between a dark, subradiant mode and a bright, super-radiant one. A flexible control over the Fano profile characterized by its linewidth and spectral contrast is crucial for many potential applications such as slowing light and biosensing. In this work, we show how one can easily but significantly tailor the overall spectral profile in plasmonic nanocluster systems, for example, quadrumers and pentamers, by selectively altering the particle shape without a need to change the particle size, interparticle distance, or the number of elements of the oligomers. This is achieved through decomposing the whole spectrum into two separate contributions from subgroups, which are efficiently excited at their spectral peak positions. We further show that different strengths of interference between the two subgroups must be considered for a full understanding of the resulting spectral lineshape. In some cases, each subgroup is separately active in distinct frequency windows with only small overlap, leading to a simple convolution of the subspectra. Variation in particle shape of either subgroup results in the tuning of the overall spectral lineshape, which opens a novel pathway for shaping the plasmonic response in small nanoclusters.

A tunable Fano resonance in silver nanoshell with a spherically anisotropic core

The influences of the anisotropic permittivity and permeability in inner core on the Fano resonance have been investigated in Ag nanoshell by means of Mie scattering theory. The decreased inner core radius can enhance the coupling between superradiant and subradiant dipole modes and hence a distinct Fano profile. With increasing the tangential permittivity or permeability of inner core, the Fano resonance shows a redshift and the magnitude of Fano profile increases. The variation of Fano resonance with anisotropic permeability of the core is much weaker than that induced by anisotropic permittivity. We further find that the combined action of the increased tangential permittivity and permeability of inner core can induce a significant enhancement of Fano resonance in Ag nanoshell.

INVESTIGATION OF FANO RESONANCES INDUCED BY HIGHER ORDER PLASMON MODES ON A CIRCULAR NANO-DISK WITH AN ELONGATED CAVITY

In this paper, a planar metallic nanostructure design, which supports two distinct Fano resonances in its extinction cross- section spectrum under normally incident and linearly polarized electromagnetic fleld, is proposed. The proposed design involves a circular disk embedding an elongated cavity; shifting and rotating the cavity break the symmetry of the structure with respect to the incident fleld and induce higher order plasmon modes. As a result, Fano resonances are generated in the visible spectrum due to the destructive interference between the sub-radiant higher order modes and super-radiant the dipolar mode. The Fano resonances can be tuned by varying the cavity's width and the rotation angle. An RLC circuit, which is mathematically equivalent to a mass-spring oscillator, is proposed to model the optical response of the nanostructure design.