Power flow from a dipole emitter near an optical antenna

Integration of Single-Photon Emitters in 2D Materials with Plasmonic Waveguides at Room Temperature

Efficient integration of a single-photon emitter with an optical waveguide is essential for quantum integrated circuits. In this study, we integrated a single-photon emitter in a hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) flake with a Ag plasmonic waveguide and measured its optical properties at room temperature. First, we performed numerical simulations to calculate the efficiency of light coupling from the emitter to the Ag plasmonic waveguide, depending on the position and polarization of the emitter. In the experiment, we placed a Ag nanowire, which acted as the plasmonic waveguide, near the defect of the h-BN, which acted as the single-photon emitter. The position and direction of the nanowire were precisely controlled using a stamping method. Our time-resolved photoluminescence measurement showed that the single-photon emission from the h-BN flake was enhanced to almost twice the intensity as a result of the coupling with the Ag nanowire. We expect these results to pave the way for the practical implementation of on-chip nanoscale quantum plasmonic integrated circuits.

Resonant magneto-optic Kerr effects of a single Ni nanorod in the Mie scattering regime

We present a systematic, theoretical investigation of the polar magneto-optical (MO) Kerr effects of a single Ni nanorod in the Mie regime. The MO Kerr rotation, ellipticity, amplitude ratio, and phase shift are calculated as a function of the length and width of the nanorod. The electric field amplitude ratio of the MO Kerr effect is locally maximized when the nanorod supports a plasmonic resonance in the polarization state orthogonal to the incident light. The plasmonic resonances directly induced by the incident light do not enhance the amplitude ratio. In the Mie regime, multiple local maxima of the MO Kerr activity are supported by the resonant modes with different modal characteristics. From the viewpoint of first-order perturbation analysis, the spatial overlap between the incident-light-induced electric field and the Green function determines the local maxima.

Superabsorbing, Artificial Metal Films Constructed from Semiconductor Nanoantennas

In 1934, Wilhelm Woltersdorff demonstrated that the absorption of light in an ultrathin, freestanding film is fundamentally limited to 50%. He concluded that reaching this limit would require a film with a real-valued sheet resistance that is exactly equal to R = η/2 ≈ 188.5Ω/□, where [Formula: see text] is the impedance of free space. This condition can be closely approximated over a wide frequency range in metals that feature a large imaginary relative permittivity εr″, that is, a real-valued conductivity σ = ε0εr″ω. A thin, continuous sheet of semiconductor material does not facilitate such strong absorption as its complex-valued permittivity with both large real and imaginary components preclude effective impedance matching. In this work, we show how a semiconductor metafilm constructed from optically resonant semiconductor nanostructures can be created whose optical response mimics that of a metallic sheet. For this reason, the fundamental absorption limit mentioned above can also be reached with semiconductor materials, opening up new opportunities for the design of ultrathin optoelectronic and light harvesting devices.

Creating semiconductor metafilms with designer absorption spectra

The optical properties of semiconductors are typically considered intrinsic and fixed. Here we leverage the rapid developments in the field of optical metamaterials to create ultrathin semiconductor metafilms with designer absorption spectra. We show how such metafilms can be constructed by placing one or more types of high-index semiconductor antennas into a dense array with subwavelength spacings. It is argued that the large absorption cross-section of semiconductor antennas and their weak near-field coupling open a unique opportunity to create strongly absorbing metafilms whose spectral absorption properties directly reflect those of the individual antennas. Using experiments and simulations, we demonstrate that near-unity absorption at one or more target wavelengths of interest can be achieved in a sub-50-nm-thick metafilm using judiciously sized and spaced Ge nanobeams. The ability to create semiconductor metafilms with custom absorption spectra opens up new design strategies for planar optoelectronic devices and solar cells.

Full three-dimensional power flow analysis of single-emitter-plasmonic-nanoantenna system

We present a full three-dimensional (3D) power flow analysis of an emitter-nanoantenna system. A conventional analysis, based on the total Poynting vector, calculates only the coupling strength in terms of the Purcell enhancement. For a better understanding of the emitter-nanoantenna system, not only the Purcell enhancement but also complete information on the energy transfer channels is necessary. The separation of the pure scattering and emitter output Poynting vectors enables the quantification of the individual energy transfer channels. Employing the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD), we examine a nanodisk antenna that supports the bright dipole and dark quadrupole resonance modes for which the power flow characteristics are completely distinct, and we analyze the power flow enhancements to the energy transfer channels with respect to the wavelength, polarization, and position of the emitter coupled to the antenna. The 3D power flow analysis reveals how the constructive or destructive interference between the emitter and the antenna resonance mode affects the power flow enhancements and the far-field radiation pattern. Our proposed power flow analysis should play a critical role in characterizing the emitter-antenna system and customizing its energy transfer properties for desired applications.

Shape-dependent light scattering properties of subwavelength silicon nanoblocks

We explore the shape-dependent light scattering properties of silicon (Si) nanoblocks and their physical origin. These high-refractive-index nanostructures are easily fabricated using planar fabrication technologies and support strong, leaky-mode resonances that enable light manipulation beyond the optical diffraction limit. Dark-field microscopy and a numerical modal analysis show that the nanoblocks can be viewed as truncated Si waveguides, and the waveguide dispersion strongly controls the resonant properties. This explains why the lowest-order transverse magnetic (TM01) mode resonance can be widely tuned over the entire visible wavelength range depending on the nanoblock length, whereas the wavelength-scale TM11 mode resonance does not change greatly. For sufficiently short lengths, the TM01 and TM11 modes can be made to spectrally overlap, and a substantial scattering efficiency, which is defined as the ratio of the scattering cross section to the physical cross section of the nanoblock, of ∼9.95, approaching the theoretical lowest-order single-channel scattering limit, is achievable. Control over the subwavelength-scale leaky-mode resonance allows Si nanoblocks to generate vivid structural color, manipulate forward and backward scattering, and act as excellent photonic artificial atoms for metasurfaces.

Probing complex reflection coefficients in one-dimensional surface plasmon polariton waveguides and cavities using STEM EELS

The resonant properties of a plasmonic cavity are determined by the size of the cavity, the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) dispersion relationship, and the complex reflection coefficients of the cavity boundaries. In small wavelength-scale cavities, the phase propagation due to reflections from the cavity walls is of a similar magnitude to propagation due to traversing the cavity. Until now, this reflection phase has been inferred from measurements of the resonant frequencies of a cavity of known dispersion and length. In this work, we present a method for measuring the complex reflection coefficients of a truncation in a 1D surface plasmon waveguide using electron energy loss spectroscopy in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM EELS) and show that this insight can be used to engineer custom cavities with engineered reflecting boundaries, whose resonant wavelengths and internal mode density profiles can be analytically predicted given knowledge of the cavity dimensions and complex reflection coefficients of the boundaries.

Introductory lecture: nanoplasmonics

Nanoplasmonics or nanoscale metal-based optics is a field of science and technology with a tremendously rich and colourful history. Starting with the early works of Michael Faraday on gold nanocolloids and optically-thin gold leaf, researchers have been fascinated by the unusual optical properties displayed by metallic nanostructures. We now can enjoy selecting from over 10 000 publications every year on the topic of plasmonics and the number of publications has been doubling about every three years since 1990. This impressive productivity can be attributed to the significant growth of the scientific community as plasmonics has spread into a myriad of new directions. With 2015 being the International Year of Light, it seems like a perfect moment to review some of the most notable accomplishments in plasmonics to date and to project where the field may be moving next. After discussing some of the major historical developments in the field, this article will analyse how the most successful plasmonics applications are capitalizing on five key strengths of metallic nanostructures. This Introductory Lecture will conclude with a brief look into the future.

Design of an efficient single photon source from a metallic nanorod dimer: a quasi-normal mode finite-difference time-domain approach

We describe how the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique can be used to compute the quasi-normal mode (QNM) for metallic nano-resonators, which is important for describing and understanding light-matter interactions in nanoplasmonics. We use the QNM to model the enhanced spontaneous emission rate for dipole emitters near a gold nanorod dimer structure using a newly developed QNM expansion technique. Enhanced single photon emission factors of around 1500 and output β-factors of around 60% are found near the localized plasmon resonance.

A twin-free single-crystal Ag nanoplate plasmonic platform: hybridization of the optical nano-antenna and surface plasmon active surface

Surface plasmons based on metallic nanostructures enable light manipulation beyond the optical diffraction limit. We have epitaxially synthesized twin-free single-crystal Ag nanoplates on SrTiO3 substrates. Unlike the nanoplates synthesized in a solution phase, these nanoplates have perfectly clean surfaces as well as a quite large size of tens of micrometers. As-synthesized defect-free single-crystal Ag nanoplates have an atomically flat surface and sides with well-defined angles, allowing long distance propagation of surface plasmons and highly reliable plasmonic integration. By spatially separating receiving and transmitting antennas and plasmonically interfacing them, the signal quality of transmission/reception can be largely improved. Furthermore, by combining sub-dimensional nanostructures onto the two-dimensional space effective hierarchical plasmonic nano-complexes can be built up. Theoretical simulations well reproduced unique experimental results of coupling between SPPs and free-space radiation by the nanoplate antenna sides, low-loss long-range SPP propagation, and tunneling or scattering of SPPs at a nano-gap as well as a nano-structure introduced on the nanoplate. The single-crystal Ag nanoplate will find superb applications in plasmonic nano-circuitry and lab-on-a-chip for biochemical sensing.

Design of plasmonic nano-antenna for total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy

We propose a gold modified bow-tie plasmonic nano-antenna, which can be suitably used in combination with total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. The plasmonic nano-antenna, supporting well-separated multiple resonances, not only concentrates the total internal reflection evanescent field at the deep subwavelength scale, but also enhances fluorescence emission by the Purcell effect. Finite-difference time-domain computations show that the enhancement of the excitation light strongly correlates with the far-field radiation pattern radiated from the antenna. Depending on the antenna geometry, the resonant modes are widely tuned and their wavelengths can be easily matched to the diverse emission or excitation wavelengths of fluorophores.

An electrically-driven GaAs nanowire surface plasmon source

Over the past decade, the properties of plasmonic waveguides have extensively been studied as key elements in important applications that include biosensors, optical communication systems, quantum plasmonics, plasmonic logic, and quantum-cascade lasers. Whereas their guiding properties are by now fairly well-understood, practical implementation in chipscale systems is hampered by the lack of convenient electrical excitation schemes. Recently, a variety of surface plasmon lasers have been realized, but they have not yet been waveguide-coupled. Planar incoherent plasmonic sources have recently been coupled to plasmonic guides but routing of plasmonic signals requires coupling to linear waveguides. Here, we present an experimental demonstration of electrically driven GaAs nanowire light sources integrated with plasmonic nanostrip waveguides with a physical cross-section of 0.08λ(2). The excitation and waveguiding of surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) is experimentally demonstrated and analyzed with the help of full-field electromagnetic simulations. Splitting and routing of the electrically generated SPP signals around 90° bends are also shown. The realization of integrated plasmon sources greatly increases the applicability range of plasmonic waveguides and routing elements.

Rainbow radiating single-crystal Ag nanowire nanoantenna

Optical antennas interface an object with optical radiation and boost the absorption and emission of light by the objects through the antenna modes. It has been much desired to enhance both excitation and emission processes of the quantum emitters as well as to interface multiwavelength channels for many nano-optical applications. Here we report the experimental implementation of an optical antenna operating in the full visible range via surface plasmon currents induced in a defect-free single-crystalline Ag nanowire (NW). With its atomically flat surface, the long Ag NW reliably establishes multiple plasmonic resonances and produces a unique rainbow antenna radiation in the Fresnel region. Detailed antenna radiation properties, such as radiating near-field patterns and polarization states, were experimentally examined and precisely analyzed by numerical simulations and antenna theory. The multiresonant Ag NW nanoantenna will find superb applications in nano-optical spectroscopy, high-resolution nanoimaging, photovoltaics, and nonlinear signal conversion.