Surface Plasmon Polariton Wavevector Research Articles

Intertwined magneto-optical and plasmonic effects in Ag/Co/Ag layered structures

Surface plasmon polariton (SPP) excitation effects on the magneto-optical (MO) activity of Au capped Ag/Co/Ag trilayers are studied as a function of Co thickness. An enhancement of the transverse MO Kerr signal under SPP excitation as compared with that obtained without SPP excitation is measured with a maximum value of 150 times obtained for the trilayer with 8 nm Co. Such enhancement on the magneto-optical activity due to SPP excitation is also five times higher than that obtained in Au/Co/Au trilayers in similar conditions. The lower optical absorption in the studied range and the sharper plasmon resonance of Ag vs Au are responsible for these values. On the other hand, magnetic field-induced SPP wavevector modulation ${(\ensuremath{\Delta}k/k)}_{\text{SPP}}$ is studied for these trilayers and compared both with previous results in the Au/Co/Au system as well as with the theory. In the wavelength considered here, the obtained values are similar for both Ag- and Au-based structures and on the order of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$, pinpointing the role of the magnetic layer on the SPP wave-vector modulation.

Magnetoplasmonic nanostructures: systems supporting both plasmonic and magnetic properties

We present in this work our current understanding on magnetoplasmonic structures, that is, systems whose constituents exhibit simultaneously magnetic and plasmonic properties. We analyze both the influence of the plasmon resonance on the magneto-optical properties of the system and the ability of the magnetic field to modulate the plasmon properties. In particular we show how, in magnetoplasmonic systems sustaining localized or propagating surface plasmons, the associated electromagnetic field enhancement gives rise to an enhancement of the magneto-optical activity. On the other hand, we have analyzed the modulation of the propagating surface plasmon polariton wavevector in noble metal/ferromagnet/noble metal trilayers by an external magnetic field. These phenomena can be addressed as new concepts for the development of active plasmonic devices.

Electrooptic Modulation in Thin Film Barium Titanate Plasmonic Interferometers

We demonstrate control of the surface plasmon polariton wavevector in an active metal-dielectric plasmonic interferometer by utilizing electrooptic barium titanate as the dielectric layer. Arrays of subwavelength interferometers were fabricated from pairs of parallel slits milled in silver on barium titanate thin films. Plasmon-mediated transmission of incident light through the subwavelength slits is modulated by an external voltage applied across the barium titanate thin film. Transmitted light modulation is ascribed to two effects, electrically induced domain switching and electrooptic modulation of the barium titanate index.

Azimuthal dispersion and energy mode condensation of grating-coupled surface plasmon polaritons

The excitation conditions for surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on a silver-gold bilayer coated sinusoidal grating can be varied over a wide range by tuning the azimuthal grating orientation $(\ensuremath{\alpha})$. Grating coupling induces rotation of the SPP wave vector which, for specific conditions, can be directed perpendicular to the exciting light direction. Certain $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ orientations allow the excitation of two SPPs with the same frequency but different propagation directions. Other azimuthal orientations allow excitation of many SPP modes characterized by propagation over a large angular range. The kinematics of SPP propagation can be described by a model based on the wave-vector conservation law. Using this model, SPP dispersion relation, propagation direction, and mode density have been computed and shown to be in agreement with experimental measurements. The wave-vector dispersion is characterized by an energy threshold for the SPP excitation that increases as $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ increases. The angular spread is accompanied by an energy condensation of the SPP modes in correspondence to the energy threshold.

Surface-magnetoplasmon nonreciprocity effects in noble-metal/ferromagnetic heterostructures

We demonstrate magnetic field control of surface plasmon excitations in noble-metal/ferromagnetic/noble metal trilayers, analogous to the effects previously observed in semiconductor structures. We show that the coupling of an external magnetic field to the surface plasmon-polariton wave vector is greatly enhanced in the metallic structure due to the ferromagnetic nature of one of its constituents. The observed coupling could be used to modulate the surface plasmon response in ultrasensitive spectroscopic applications.

Excitation and superfocusing of surface plasmon polaritons on a silver-coated optical fiber tip

We theoretically study the transfer of energy from a fiber mode to surface plasmon polaritons at the silver/air interface in the taper region of a silver-coated fiber tip. We describe conditions, under which a transfer efficiency from the fiber mode to the surface plasmon polariton of up to 46% can be achieved. Propagation of the surface plasmon polaritons towards the tip of the tapered structure leads to a strong subwavelength localization of the excitation enabled by a substantial increase of the surface plasmon polariton wave vector approaching the tip. The resulting strong field enhancement and confinement has a tremendous potential for applications in ultrahigh resolution tip-enhanced near-field optical microscopy.