We present the design for an absorbing metamaterial (MM) with near unity absorbance A(omega). Our structure consists of two MM resonators that couple separately to electric and magnetic fields so as to absorb all incident radiation within a single unit cell layer. We fabricate, characterize, and analyze a MM absorber with a slightly lower predicted A(omega) of 96%. Unlike conventional absorbers, our MM consists solely of metallic elements. The substrate can therefore be optimized for other parameters of interest. We experimentally demonstrate a peak A(omega) greater than 88% at 11.5 GHz.

Perfect metamaterial absorber.

Electronic circuits provide us with the ability to control the transport and storage of electrons. However, the performance of electronic circuits is now becoming rather limited when digital information needs to be sent from one point to another. Photonics offers an effective solution to this problem by implementing optical communication systems based on optical fibers and photonic circuits. Unfortunately, the micrometer-scale bulky components of photonics have limited the integration of these components into electronic chips, which are now measured in nanometers. Surface plasmon-based circuits, which merge electronics and photonics at the nanoscale, may offer a solution to this size-compatibility problem. Here we review the current status and future prospects of plasmonics in various applications including plasmonic chips, light generation, and nanolithography.

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Plasmonics: merging photonics and electronics at nanoscale dimensions.

Collective electronic excitations at metal surfaces are well known to play a key role in a wide spectrum of science, ranging from physics and materials science to biology. Here we focus on a theoretical description of the many-body dynamical electronic response of solids, which underlines the existence of various collective electronic excitations at metal surfaces, such as the conventional surface plasmon, multipole plasmons and the recently predicted acoustic surface plasmon. We also review existing calculations, experimental measurements and applications.

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Theory of surface plasmons and surface-plasmon polaritons

Quantum plasmonics is a rapidly growing field of research that involves the study of the quantum properties of light and its interaction with matter at the nanoscale Here, surface plasmons - electromagnetic excitations coupled to electron charge density waves on metal-dielectric interfaces or localized on metallic nanostructures - enable the confinement of light to scales far below that of conventional optics In this article we review recent progress in the experimental and theoretical investigation of the quantum properties of surface plasmons, their role in controlling light-matter interactions at the quantum level and potential applications Quantum plasmonics opens up a new frontier in the study of the fundamental physics of surface plasmons and the realization of quantum-controlled devices, including single-photon sources, transistors and ultra-compact circuitry at the nanoscale

Quantum Plasmonics

This review provides a perspective on the recent developments in the transmission of light through subwavelength apertures in metal films. The main focus is on the phenomenon of extraordinary optical transmission in periodic hole arrays, discovered over a decade ago. It is shown that surface electromagnetic modes play a key role in the emergence of the resonant transmission. These modes are also shown to be at the root of both the enhanced transmission and beaming of light found in single apertures surrounded by periodic corrugations. This review describes both the theoretical and experimental aspects of the subject. For clarity, the physical mechanisms operating in the different structures considered are analyzed within a common theoretical framework. Several applications based on the transmission properties of subwavelength apertures are also addressed.

http://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/47904/1/Light%20passing.pdf

Light passing through subwavelength apertures

Nanoscale optomechanical systems offer a route to using optical forces for a range of devices based on photonic structures. Deotare et al. present a reconfigurable optical filter based on coupled silicon photonic crystal nanobeam cavities that can overcome thermo-optic effects at high frequencies.

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All optical reconfiguration of optomechanical filters

We demonstrate high-quality (Q) factor grating-coupled ring resonators in a silicon-on-sapphire platform, operating at wavelengths between 4.3 and 4.6 μm. Total Q-factors of 151 000 and intrinsic Q-factors of 278 000 are measured, representing the highest Q-factors measured at the mid-infrared in Si.

Integrated high-quality factor silicon-on-sapphire ring resonators for the mid-infrared

Synthetic single-crystal diamond has recently emerged as a promising platform for Raman lasers at exotic wavelengths due to its giant Raman shift, large transparency window, and excellent thermal properties yielding a greatly enhanced figure of merit compared to conventional materials. To date, diamond Raman lasers have been realized using bulk plates placed inside macroscopic cavities, requiring careful alignment and resulting in high threshold powers (W–kW range). Here we demonstrate an on-chip Raman laser based on fully integrated, high-quality-factor, diamond racetrack microresonators embedded in silica. Pumping at telecom wavelengths, we show Stokes output discretely tunable over a ∼100  nm bandwidth around 2 μm with output power >250 μW, extending the functionality of diamond Raman lasers to an interesting wavelength range at the edge of the mid-infrared spectrum. Continuous-wave operation with only ∼85  mW pump threshold power in the feeding waveguide is demonstrated along with continuous, mode-hop-free tuning over ∼7.5  GHz in a compact, integrated-optics platform.

/pdf/on-chip-diamond-raman-laser-3g2al2skdl.pdf

On-chip diamond Raman laser

We demonstrate the design, fabrication, and characterization of silicon photonic crystal cavities realized in a silicon on insulator (SOI) platform, operating at a wavelength of 4.4 μm with a quality factor of 13,600. Cavity modes are imaged using the technique of scanning resonant scattering microscopy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of photonic devices fabricated in SOI and operating in the 4-5 μm wavelength range.

Mid-infrared photonic crystal cavities in silicon.

The realization of an integrated diamond photonic platform, based on a thin single crystal diamond film on top of a silicon dioxide/silicon substrate, is reported. Using this approach, we demonstrate high-quality factor single crystal diamond race-track resonators, operating at near-infrared wavelengths (1550 nm). The devices are integrated with low-loss diamond waveguides terminated with polymer pads (spot size converters) to facilitate in- (out-) coupling of light from (to) an optical fiber. Optical characterization of these resonators reveal quality factors as high as ∼250 000 and overall insertion losses as low as 1 dB/facet. Scattering induced mode splitting as well as signatures of nonlinear effects such as optical bistability are observed at an input pump power of ∼100 mW in the waveguides.

Irfan Bulu

Papers

All optical reconfiguration of optomechanical filters

Integrated high-quality factor silicon-on-sapphire ring resonators for the mid-infrared

On-chip diamond Raman laser

Mid-infrared photonic crystal cavities in silicon.

Integrated High-Quality Factor Optical Resonators in Diamond