Joushaghani A, Hou B, Aitchison JS, Poon JKS. Surface plasmon polariton induced optical amplitude and phase modulation in sub-wavelength apertures.
OPTICS EXPRESS 2011;
19:8367-8378. [PMID:
21643088 DOI:
10.1364/oe.19.008367]
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Abstract
We report on the amplitude and phase modulation of picosecond optical pulses, near λ = 800 nm, transmitted through sub-wavelength rectangular apertures in thin gold films with thicknesses of λ/10 at per-pulse energies of <0.3 nJ or 9 pJ per aperture. Due to the excitation and strong confinement of surface plasmon polaritons in the apertures, the leading edge of a pulse causes a rapid heating of the electrons and lattice to modulate its falling edge. By comparing cross-correlation frequency resolved optical gating measurements with simulations, the thermal effects responsible for the induced pulse dynamics are identified.
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