We report on the first experimental observation of Tamm plasmon polaritons (TPPs) formed at the interface between a metal and a dielectric Bragg reflector (DBR). In contrast to conventional surface plasmons, TPPs have an in-plane wavevector less than the wavevector of light in vacuum, which allows for their direct optical excitation. The angular resolved reflectivity and transmission spectra of a GaAs∕AlAs DBR covered by Au films of various thicknesses show the resonances associated with the TPP at low temperatures and room temperature. The in-plane dispersion of TTPs is parabolic with an effective mass of 4×10−5 of the free electron mass.

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Tamm plasmon polaritons: Slow and spatially compact light

The refractive index of GaAs has been measured in the wavelength range from 0.97 to 17 μm, which covers nearly the entire transmission range of the material. Linear and quadratic temperature coefficients of the refractive index have been fitted to data measured between room temperature and 95 °C. In the midinfrared, the refractive index and temperature dependence are obtained from analysis of etalon fringes measured by Fourier-transform spectroscopy in undoped GaAs wafers. In the near infrared, the refractive index is deduced from the quasiphasematching (QPM) wavelengths of second-harmonic generation in orientation-patterned GaAs crystals. Two alternative empirical expressions are fitted to the data to give the refractive index as a function of wavelength and temperature. These dispersion relations agree with observed QPM conditions for midinfrared difference-frequency generation and second-harmonic generation. Predictions for various nonlinear optical interactions are presented, including tuning curves f...

/pdf/improved-dispersion-relations-for-gaas-and-applications-to-16kp258zqj.pdf

Improved dispersion relations for GaAs and applications to nonlinear optics

Being motivated by the recent prediction of high-$Q$ modes in subwavelength dielectric resonators inspired by bound states in the continuum (BIC), we study the second-harmonic generation from isolated subwavelength AlGaAs nanoantennas. We reveal that nonlinear effects at the nanoscale can be enhanced dramatically provided the resonator parameters are tuned to the BIC regime. We predict a record-high conversion efficiency for nanoscale resonators that exceeds by 2 orders of magnitude the conversion efficiency observed at the magnetic dipole Mie resonance, thus opening the way for highly efficient nonlinear metasurfaces and metadevices.

/pdf/giant-nonlinear-response-at-the-nanoscale-driven-by-bound-4pf0d7gaew.pdf

Giant Nonlinear Response at the Nanoscale Driven by Bound States in the Continuum.

We designed AlGaAs-on-aluminium-oxide all-dielectric nanoantennas with magnetic dipole resonance at near-infrared wavelengths. These devices, shaped as cylinders of 400nm height and different radii, offer a few crucial advantages with respect to the silicon-on-insulator platform for operation around 1.55μm wavelength: absence of two-photon absorption, high χ((2)) nonlinearity, and the perspective of a monolithic integration with a laser. We analyzed volume χ((2)) nonlinear effects associated to a magnetic dipole resonance in these nanoantennas, and we predict second-harmonic generation exceeding 10(-3) efficiency with 1GW/cm(2) of pump intensity.

Enhanced second-harmonic generation from magnetic resonance in AlGaAs nanoantennas.

The reflectivity map is theoretically investigated by applying the transfer matrix method in a metal-dielectric mirror structure at normal incidence. The existence of multiple optical Tamm states (OTSs) is demonstrated in this structure. It is found that an OTS is periodic resonance with the variation of the top-layer thickness of the dielectric mirror for a given wavelength. The energy for the corresponding OTS mainly depends on the thickness of the top layer. The appropriate thicknesses of metal film are proposed for the convenient observation of OTSs. This work may be useful in designing a new type of multichannel filter in optical communication systems.

http://ufolab.phys.hust.edu.cn/papers/2010%20Multiple%20optical%20Tamm%20states%20at%20a%20metal-dielectric%20mirror%20interface.pdf

Multiple optical Tamm states at a metal-dielectric mirror interface.

The refractive indices of AlxGa1−xAs epitaxial layers (0.176⩽x⩽1) are accurately determined below the band gap to wavelengths, λ<3 μm. The layers are grown on GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy metal organic and chemical vapor deposition with thicknesses ranging from 4 to 10 μm. They form improper waveguide structures with the GaAs substrate. The measurements are based on the excitation of the improper waveguide modes with grating couplers at 23 °C. The refractive indices of the layers are derived from the modal propagation constants in the range of 730 nm<λ<830 nm with an estimated uncertainty of Δn=5×10−4. The temperature coefficient of the refractive index is investigated in the same spectral range. From the effective indices of the TE and TM modes, we derive the strain-induced birefringence and the elasto-optic coefficients. High-resolution x-ray diffraction is used to determine the strain of the layers. The layer compositions are obtained with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectro...

A. Vonlanthen

Papers

The refractive index of AlxGa1−xAs below the band gap: Accurate determination and empirical modeling