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Journal ArticleDOI

Channel plasmon-polariton in a triangular groove on a metal surface.

14 May 2004-Optics Letters (Optical Society of America)-Vol. 29, Iss: 10, pp 1069-1071
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the localization of the predicted plasmons in acute grooves may be substantially stronger than what is allowed by the diffraction limit.
Abstract: One-dimensional localized plasmons (channel polaritons) guided by a triangular groove on a metal substrate are investigated numerically by means of a finite-difference time-domain algorithm. Dispersion, existence conditions, and dissipation of these waves are analyzed. In particular, it is demonstrated that the localization of the predicted plasmons in acute grooves may be substantially stronger than what is allowed by the diffraction limit. As a result, the predicted waves may be significant for the development of new subwavelength waveguides and interconnectors for nano-optics and photonics.

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Citations
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15 May 2007
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the role of surface plasmon polaritons at metal/insulator interfaces and their application in the propagation of surfaceplasmon waveguides.
Abstract: Fundamentals of Plasmonics.- Electromagnetics of Metals.- Surface Plasmon Polaritons at Metal / Insulator Interfaces.- Excitation of Surface Plasmon Polaritons at Planar Interfaces.- Imaging Surface Plasmon Polariton Propagation.- Localized Surface Plasmons.- Electromagnetic Surface Modes at Low Frequencies.- Applications.- Plasmon Waveguides.- Transmission of Radiation Through Apertures and Films.- Enhancement of Emissive Processes and Nonlinearities.- Spectroscopy and Sensing.- Metamaterials and Imaging with Surface Plasmon Polaritons.- Concluding Remarks.

7,238 citations


Cites background from "Channel plasmon-polariton in a tria..."

  • ...Analytical [Novikov and Maradudin, 2002] and FDTD studies [Pile and Gramotnev, 2004] have suggested that a bound SPP mode exists at the bottom of the groove, offering sub-wavelength mode confinement....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors summarized the basic principles and major achievements of plasmon guiding, and details the current state-of-the-art in subwavelength PLASmonic waveguides, passive and active nanoplasmonic components for the generation, manipulation and detection of radiation, and configurations for the nanofocusing of light.
Abstract: Recent years have seen a rapid expansion of research into nanophotonics based on surface plasmon–polaritons. These electromagnetic waves propagate along metal–dielectric interfaces and can be guided by metallic nanostructures beyond the diffraction limit. This remarkable capability has unique prospects for the design of highly integrated photonic signal-processing systems, nanoresolution optical imaging techniques and sensors. This Review summarizes the basic principles and major achievements of plasmon guiding, and details the current state-of-the-art in subwavelength plasmonic waveguides, passive and active nanoplasmonic components for the generation, manipulation and detection of radiation, and configurations for the nanofocusing of light. Potential future developments and applications of nanophotonic devices and circuits are also discussed, such as in optical signals processing, nanoscale optical devices and near-field microscopy with nanoscale resolution.

3,481 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
23 Mar 2006-Nature
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that CPP guides can indeed be used for large-angle bending and splitting of radiation, thereby enabling the realization of ultracompact plasmonic components and paving the way for a new class of integrated optical circuits.
Abstract: Photonic components are superior to electronic ones in terms of operational bandwidth, but the diffraction limit of light poses a significant challenge to the miniaturization and high-density integration of optical circuits. The main approach to circumvent this problem is to exploit the hybrid nature of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), which are light waves coupled to free electron oscillations in a metal that can be laterally confined below the diffraction limit using subwavelength metal structures. However, the simultaneous realization of strong confinement and a propagation loss sufficiently low for practical applications has long been out of reach. Channel SPP modes--channel plasmon polaritons (CPPs)--are electromagnetic waves that are bound to and propagate along the bottom of V-shaped grooves milled in a metal film. They are expected to exhibit useful subwavelength confinement, relatively low propagation loss, single-mode operation and efficient transmission around sharp bends. Our previous experiments showed that CPPs do exist and that they propagate over tens of micrometres along straight subwavelength grooves. Here we report the design, fabrication and characterization of CPP-based subwavelength waveguide components operating at telecom wavelengths: Y-splitters, Mach-Zehnder interferometers and waveguide-ring resonators. We demonstrate that CPP guides can indeed be used for large-angle bending and splitting of radiation, thereby enabling the realization of ultracompact plasmonic components and paving the way for a new class of integrated optical circuits.

2,131 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a hybrid optical waveguide is proposed to confine surface plasmon polaritons over large distances using a dielectric nanowire separated from a metal surface by a nanoscale gap.
Abstract: The emerging field of nanophotonics1 addresses the critical challenge of manipulating light on scales much smaller than the wavelength. However, very few feasible practical approaches exist at present. Surface plasmon polaritons2,3 are among the most promising candidates for subwavelength optical confinement3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. However, studies of long-range surface plasmon polaritons have only demonstrated optical confinement comparable to that of conventional dielectric waveguides, because of practical issues including optical losses and stringent fabrication demands3,11,12,13. Here, we propose a new approach that integrates dielectric waveguiding with plasmonics. The hybrid optical waveguide consists of a dielectric nanowire separated from a metal surface by a nanoscale dielectric gap. The coupling between the plasmonic and waveguide modes across the gap enables ‘capacitor-like’ energy storage that allows effective subwavelength transmission in non-metallic regions. In this way, surface plasmon polaritons can travel over large distances (40–150 µm) with strong mode confinement (ranging from λ2/400 to λ2/40). This approach is fully compatible with semiconductor fabrication techniques and could lead to truly nanoscale semiconductor-based plasmonics and photonics. Xiang Zhang and colleagues from the University of California, Berkeley, propose a new approach for confining light on scales much smaller than the wavelength of light. Using hybrid waveguides that incorporate dielectric and plasmonic waveguiding techniques, they are able to confine surface plasmon polaritons very strongly over large distances. The advance could lead to truly nanoscale plasmonics and photonics.

1,905 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a theoretical description of the many-body dynamical electronic response of solids is presented, which underlines the existence of various collective electronic excitations at metal surfaces.
Abstract: 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.

1,316 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Observations of electromagnetic energy transport from a localized subwavelength source to a localized detector over distances of about 0.5 μm in plasmon waveguides consisting of closely spaced silver rods are presented.
Abstract: Achieving control of light-material interactions for photonic device applications at nanoscale dimensions will require structures that guide electromagnetic energy with a lateral mode confinement below the diffraction limit of light. This cannot be achieved by using conventional waveguides or photonic crystals. It has been suggested that electromagnetic energy can be guided below the diffraction limit along chains of closely spaced metal nanoparticles that convert the optical mode into non-radiating surface plasmons. A variety of methods such as electron beam lithography and self-assembly have been used to construct metal nanoparticle plasmon waveguides. However, all investigations of the optical properties of these waveguides have so far been confined to collective excitations and direct experimental evidence for energy transport along plasmon waveguides has proved elusive. Here we present observations of electromagnetic energy transport from a localized subwavelength source to a localized detector over distances of about 0.5 μm in plasmon waveguides consisting of closely spaced silver rods. The waveguides are excited by the tip of a near-field scanning optical microscope, and energy transport is probed by using fluorescent nanospheres.

2,305 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The idea of a subwavelength-sized light guide represented by a linear chain of spherical metal nanoparticles in which light is transmitted by electrodynamic interparticle coupling may be useful for subwa wavelength transmission lines within integrated optics circuits and for near-field optical microscopy.
Abstract: We propose the idea of a subwavelength-sized light guide represented by a linear chain of spherical metal nanoparticles in which light is transmitted by electrodynamic interparticle coupling. The light-transport properties of this system are investigated by use of model calculations based on generalized Mie theory. Considering Ag particles of 50-nm diameter, we find optimum guiding conditions for an interparticle spacing of 25 nm, and a corresponding 1/e signal-damping length of 900 nm is evaluated. The proposed principle of optical energy transport may be useful for subwavelength transmission lines within integrated optics circuits and for near-field optical microscopy.

1,024 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the dispersion of the electromagnetic modes with film thickness and width has been assessed and the effects caused by varying the difference between the superstrate and substrate dielectric constants on the characteristics of the modes have been determined.
Abstract: The purely bound electromagnetic modes of propagation supported by asymmetric waveguide structures, comprised of a thin lossy metal film of finite width on a dielectric substrate and covered by a different dielectric superstrate, have been characterized at optical wavelengths. The dispersion of the modes with film thickness and width has been assessed and the effects caused by varying the difference between the superstrate and substrate dielectric constants on the characteristics of the modes have been determined. The modes are quite different from those supported by corresponding slab structures or similar finite-width symmetric waveguides. Unlike these limiting cases, the dispersion with film thickness can exhibit an unusual oscillatory character which is explained by a switching or swapping of the constituent interface modes. In addition, the four fundamental modes supported can evolve such that none has a diminishing attenuation with diminishing film thickness. This rather complex evolution of modes is unique to asymmetric finite-width structures. Under certain conditions, a long-ranging mode having a field distribution that is suitable to excitation using an end-fire technique can be supported. The long-ranging mode has a cutoff thickness below which it is no longer propagated, and its attenuation near cutoff decreases very rapidly, much more so than the attenuation related to the long-ranging mode in a comparable symmetric waveguide. Furthermore, its cutoff thickness is larger than that of the ${s}_{b}$ mode in the corresponding asymmetric slab waveguide, which implies that decreasing the film width increases the sensitivity of the mode to the asymmetry in the structure. This result is interesting and potentially useful in that the propagation characteristics of the mode can be affected by a smaller change in the dielectric constant of the substrate or superstrate compared with the ${s}_{b}$ mode guided by the corresponding slab structure.

835 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The concept of a one-dimensional optical wave and its waveguides are proposed for what is to the authors' knowledge the first time and the applications of the waveguide to optical devices in the nanometer range are discussed.
Abstract: The concept of a one-dimensional optical wave and its waveguides are proposed for what is to our knowledge the first time. The proposed waveguides are principally new and named for one-dimensional optical waveguides. One-dimensional optical waveguides make it possible to guide very thin optical beams in the visible or the near-infrared region with a diameter in the nanometer range. The propagation properties are analyzed theoretically. The applications of the waveguides to optical devices in the nanometer range are discussed.

798 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A strong dependence of the plasmon lifetime and resonance wavelength on the grating constant is found and it is found that gold nanoparticles arranged in regular two-dimensional patterns have regular grating effects.
Abstract: We probe the influence of grating effects on plasmon excitations in gold nanoparticles arranged in regular two-dimensional patterns. Samples produced by electron-beam lithography are investigated by femtosecond time-resolved and spectroscopic methods. We find a strong dependence of the plasmon lifetime and resonance wavelength on the grating constant.

575 citations