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At least 811 records · Page 45

Bragg resonance in a system of AsSb plasmonic nanoinclusions in AlGaAs

The optical reflection from periodic structures based on a semiconductor AlGaAs matrix containing 2D arrays of plasmonic AsSb nanoinclusions is studied. The number of nanoinclusion layers is 12 or 24, and the nominal spatial periods are 100 or 110 nm, respectively. In the experimental spectra of the optical reflection coefficient at normal incidence, we observe resonant Bragg diffraction with the main peaks at wavelengths of 757 or 775 nm (1.64 or 1.60 eV), depending on the spatial period of the nanostructure. The magnitudes of the resonance peaks reach 22 and 31% for the systems of 12 and 24 AsSb–AlGaAs layers, while the volume fraction of the nanoinclusions is much less than 1%. In the case of light incident at inclined angles, the Bragg-diffraction pattern shifts according to Wulff–Bragg’s law. Numerical simulation of the optical reflection spectra is performed using the transfer-matrix method by taking into account the spatial geometry of the structures and the resonance characteristics of the plasmonic AsSb layers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Amplification of terahertz radiation in a plasmon n–i–p–i graphene structure with charge-carrier injection

The absorption/amplification spectrum of terahertz radiation in inhomogeneous graphene (n–i–p–i structure) with a periodic dual metal grating is theoretically investigated. It is shown that the amplification of terahertz radiation sharply increases at the plasmon-resonance frequency, when losses due to electron scattering and emission are balanced by the plasmon gain (related to the stimulated radiative interband recombination of electron–hole pairs in the inverted region of graphene).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Purcell Effect in Tamm Plasmon Structures with QD Emitter

We study Tamm plasmon structure based on GaAs/Al{sub 0.95}GaAs distributed Bragg reflector covered by thin silver layer, with active area formed by InAs quantum dots. We have measured the spectral and angular characteristics of photoluminescence and performed theoretical calculation of the spontaneous emission rate (modal Purcell factor) in the structure by using S-quantization formalism. We show that for Tamm plasmon mode the spontaneous emission can be enhanced by more than an order of magnitude, despite absorption in metallic layer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Experimental Study of Spontaneous-Emission Enhancement in Tamm Plasmon Structures with an Organic Active Region

Spontaneous-emission enhancement in a Tamm plasmon microcavity with an active region with organic material 4.4'-bis(N-carbazolyl)-1.1'-biphenyl (CBP) is theoretically and experimentally studied. The microcavity consisted of a Bragg reflector made of silicon oxide and tantalum oxide, over which CBP and silver layers are applied. The dependences of the Purcell modal factor on the emission direction and frequency, as well as the Purcell factor spectrum are calculated. The emission and fluorescence decay spectra in time are measured in the ultraviolet range. It is found that the probability of spontaneous emission increases and the maximum Purcell factor reaches three at frequencies corresponding to eigenmodes of the Tamm plasmon.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Determining the Concentration of Free Electrons in n-InSb from Far-Infrared Reflectance Spectra with Allowance for Plasmon–Phonon Coupling

Contactless nondestructive testing is a means for determining the concentration of free electrons N in indium antimonide (InSb) samples from far-infrared reflectance spectra recorded at room temperature. A computer program capable of determining the characteristic wave number from the Kramers–Kronig relation is developed. The calculated calibration dependence makes it possible to determine the electron concentration from the known characteristic wave number. It is shown that this dependence is described by a cubic polynomial. In the calculations, the energy dependence of the electron effective mass is taken into account. It is established that, in determining the electron concentration, account must be taken of plasmon–phonon coupling, specifically at N ≤ 5 × 10{sup 17} cm{sup –3}. The systematic error introduced into the determination of N by disregard of plasmon–phonon coupling is estimated. The software elaborated here makes it possible to calculate the electron concentration N from experimental reflectance spectra and to store and process the results. The software is tested by the example of the reflectance spectrum of heavily doped n-InSb.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Plasmonic Enhancement of the Photoluminescence in Hybrid Structures with SiGe Quantum Dots and Ag Nanoislands

Plasmonic enhancement of the photoluminescence in hybrid structures with SiGe quantum dots and Ag nanoislands was found. Ag nanoislands grown on the top of the multilayer structures with SiGe quantum dots (QDs) support a surface plasmon resonance that can be tuned to the QD emission wavelength by changing of Ag nanoparticle parameters. Photoluminescence measurements of the hybrid metal-semiconductor nanostructures revealed a fourfold increase of the integral intensity of SiGe QD emission in the spectral range from 0.8 to 1 eV.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Surface Plasmon Polaritons at the Boundary of a Graphene-Based Thin-Layer Medium

Properties of surface plasmon polaritons of the TM type at the interface of an isotropic insulator and a periodic graphene–insulator structure have been investigated. It is established that the presence of graphene in this structure allows one to obtain (in certain frequency ranges) negative effective permittivity and implement the condition for the existence of a surface wave that is practically unabsorbed. The influence of the graphene content in the structure on the characteristics of plasmon polaritons (in particular, the possibility of their significant slowing-down) is demonstrated.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Optical and Physical Probing of Thermal Processes in Semiconductor and Plasmonic Nanocrystals

This article reviews thermal properties of semiconductor and emergent plasmonic nanomaterials with a focus on mechanisms through which hot carriers and phonons are produced and dissipated, as well as the related impact on optoelectronic properties. Equilibrium elevated temperatures, of particular relevance to implementation of nanomaterials in devices, affect absorptive and radiative transitions as well as emission efficiency that can present reversible and irreversible changes with temperature. In noble metal or doped semiconductor/insulator nanomaterials, hot carriers and lattice heating can substantially influence localized surface plasmon resonances and yield large, ultrafast changes in transmission, or strongly oscillatory coherences. Transient optical and diffraction characterizations enable non-equilibrium investigations of phonon dynamics and cooling such as lattice expansion and crystal phase stability. Timescales of nanoparticle thermalization with surroundings and transport of heat within films of such materials is also discussed.

optical probe↗

Realizing structural color generation with aluminum plasmonic V-groove metasurfaces

The structural color printing based on all-aluminum plasmonic V-groove metasurfaces is demonstrated under both bright field and dark field illumination conditions. A broad visible color range is realized with the plasmonic V-groove arrays etched on aluminum surface by simply varying the groove depth while keeping the groove period as a constant. Polarization dependent structural color printing is further achieved with interlaced V-groove arrays along both the horizontal and vertical directions. Furthermore, these results pave the way towards the use of all-aluminum structural color printing platform for many practical applications such as security marking and information storage.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Enhanced cutoff energies for direct and rescattered strong-field photoelectron emission of plasmonic nanoparticles

Abstract The efficient generation, accurate detection, and detailed physical tracking of energetic electrons are of applied interest for high harmonics generation, electron-impact spectroscopy, and femtosecond time-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy. We here investigate the generation of photoelectrons (PEs) by exposing plasmonic nanostructures to intense laser pulses in the infrared (IR) spectral regime and analyze the sensitivity of PE spectra to competing elementary interactions for direct and rescattered photoemission pathways. Specifically, we measured and numerically simulated emitted PE momentum distributions from prototypical spherical gold nanoparticles (NPs) with diameters between 5 and 70 nm generated by short laser pulses with peak intensities of 8.0 × 10 12 and 1.2 × 10 13 W/cm 2 , demonstrating the shaping of PE spectra by the Coulomb repulsion between PEs, accumulating residual charges on the NP, and induced plasmonic electric fields. Compared to well-understood rescattering PE cutoff energies for strong-field photoemission from gaseous atomic targets (10× the ponderomotive energy), our measured and simulated PE spectra reveal a dramatic cutoff-energy increase of two orders of magnitude with a significantly higher contribution from direct photoemission. Our findings indicate that direct PEs reach up to 93 % of the rescattered electron cutoff energy, in contrast to 20 % for gaseous atoms, suggesting a novel scheme for the development of compact tunable tabletop electron sources.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Spatiotemporal imaging and manipulation of surface plasmons

Abstract Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are travelling surface waves that have shown promise for applications in nanophotonics as they provide a direct route toward photon-mediated electrical signal generation – a central paradigm for speeding up and scaling down photonic elements. SPP waves have also generated fundamental interest due to their high-field strength and sub-wavelength confinement, properties that have enabled the surface-enhanced Raman effect. Over the last decade, photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) has emerged as a pioneering technique for imaging surface electric fields through ultrashort laser pulse mediated electron emission and has therefore become an indispensable tool for characterizing plasmonic phenomena at interfaces in a variety of materials. PEEM offers nanometer spatial resolution and femtosecond temporal resolution, allowing SPPs to be prepared, monitored, and manipulated on the nanometer-femtosecond scale. Through a brief review of recent reports, we aim to introduce PEEM-based SPP imaging and manipulation modalities and highlight their utility in the context of emerging nanoscale and quantum materials science advancements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Aberration correction in photoemission microscopy and applications in photonics and plasmonics

We report on the design, assembly, operation and application of an aberration-corrected photoemission electron microscope. The instrument used novel hyperbolic mirror-correctors with two and three electrodes that allowed simultaneous correction of spherical and chromatic aberrations. A spatial resolution of 5.4nm was obtained with this instrument in 2009, and 4.7nm in subsequent years. New imaging methodology was introduced involving interferometric imaging of light diffraction. This methodology was applied in nano-photonics and in the characterization of surface-plasmon polaritons. Photonic crystals and waveguides, optical antennas and new plasmonic devices such as routers, localizers and filters were designed and demonstrated using the new capabilities offered by the microscope.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Plasmonic hybrid core-shell (HyCoS) AgPt NP template hybridized with GQDs for SERS enhancement of 4-MBA and BT

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an attractive vibrational spectroscopic technique that can enable a non-destructive and ultra-sensitive detection down to the single-molecule level. Herein, a novel hybrid SERS platform is developed based on hybrid core-shell (HyCoS) AgPt nanoparticles (NPs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for the enhancement of Raman vibration of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) and benzenethiol (BT). The unique design of HyCoS AgPt NPs induces strong electromagnetic mechanism (EM) enhancement through the amplification of electromagnetic fields by the excitation of high-density surface plasmons and hot spots. Superior localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is generated by the AgPt core-shell and background Ag NP coupling, which is systematically investigated by the optical properties and FDTD simulations. The background Ag NPs can further increase the coverage of metallic NPs, leading to higher-density hot spots and enhanced SERS response. At the same time, GQDs can provide plentiful accessible edges for the charge transfer to the HOMO and LUMO of 4-MBA and BT based on the chemical mechanism (CM) enhancement. The mixing approach of GQDs and target molecules on the HyCoS AgPt NPs can significantly amplify the Raman signals via the strong adsorption of probe molecules by the π–π interaction. The enhancement factors of proposed SERS platform can reach ~10 7 and ~10 5 for the 4-MBA and BT respectively.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Plasmon and Photon Excitations in Two-Dimensional and Layered Materials

Light-matter interactions in layered and two-dimensional materials allows one to achieve extreme optical confinement approaching the atomic scale, enabling exploration of new materials phenomena. Layered narrow bandgap and zero bandgap materials, such as black phosphorus and graphene, support unusual and intriguing quantum-confined electronic states in thin layers and surface electronic states. The incomplete screening of applied electrostatic fields in ultrathin materials permits the exploration of light-matter interactions at high electric fields and over a wide range of carrier densities in a single sample, facilitating exploration of the optical and plasmonic properties of ultrathin and layered materials under electrochemical potential control. We have made advances in understanding the nature of optical interband and intraband plasmon excitations in layered materials such as graphene, black phosphorus, molybdenum diselenide, and molybdenum ditelluride.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Plasmonic Core–Shell–Satellites with Abundant Electromagnetic Hotspots for Highly Sensitive and Reproducible SERS Detection

In this work, we develop a Ag@Al2O3@Ag plasmonic core–shell–satellite (PCSS) to achieve highly sensitive and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection of probe molecules. To fabricate PCSS nanostructures, we employ a simple hierarchical dewetting process of Ag films coupled with an atomic layer deposition (ALD) method for the Al2O3 shell. Compared to bare Ag nanoparticles, several advantages of fabricating PCSS nanostructures are discovered, including high surface roughness, high density of nanogaps between Ag core and Ag satellites, and nanogaps between adjacent Ag satellites. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations of the PCSS nanostructure confirm an enhancement in the electromagnetic field intensity (hotspots) in the nanogap between the Ag core and the satellite generated by the Al2O3 shell, due to the strong core–satellite plasmonic coupling. The as-prepared PCSS-based SERS substrate demonstrates an enhancement factor (EF) of 1.7 × 107 and relative standard deviation (RSD) of ~7%, endowing our SERS platform with highly sensitive and reproducible detection of R6G molecules. We think that this method provides a simple approach for the fabrication of PCSS by a solid-state technique and a basis for developing a highly SERS-active substrate for practical applications.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Beyond Conventional Sensing: Hybrid Plasmonic Metasurfaces and Bound States in the Continuum

Fano resonances result from the strong coupling and interference between a broad background state and a narrow, almost discrete state, leading to the emergence of asymmetric scattering spectral profiles. Under certain conditions, Fano resonances can experience a collapse of their width due to the destructive interference of strongly coupled modes, resulting in the formation of bound states in the continuum (BIC). In such cases, the modes are simultaneously localized in the nanostructure and coexist with radiating waves, leading to an increase in the quality factor, which is virtually unlimited. In this work, we report on the design of a layered hybrid plasmonic-dielectric metasurface that facilitates strong mode coupling and the formation of BIC, resulting in resonances with a high quality factor. We demonstrate the possibility of controlling Fano resonances and tuning Rabi splitting using the nanoantenna dimensions. We also experimentally demonstrate the generalized Kerker effect in a binary arrangement of silicon nanodisks, which allows for the tuning of the collective modes and creates new photonic functionalities and improved sensing capabilities. Our findings have promising implications for developing plasmonic sensors that leverage strong light-matter interactions in hybrid metasurfaces.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Anomalous Dispersion in Reflection and Emission of Dye Molecules Strongly Coupled to Surface Plasmon Polaritons

We have studied dispersion of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in the Kretschmann geometry (prism/Ag/dye-doped polymer) in weak, intermediate, and ultra-strong exciton–plasmon coupling regimes. The dispersion curves obtained in the reflection experiment were in good agreement with the simple model predictions at small concentrations of dye (Rhodamine 590, Rh590) in the polymer (Poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA). At the same time, highly unusual multi-segment “staircase-like” dispersion curves were observed at extra-large dye concentrations, also in agreement with the simple theoretical model predicting large, small, and negative group velocities featured by different polariton branches. In a separate experiment, we measured angular dependent emission of Rh590 dye and obtained the dispersion curves consisting of two branches, one nearly resembling the SPP dispersion found in reflection and the second one almost horizontal. The results of our study pave the road to unparalleled fundamental science and future applications of weak and strong light—matter interactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Reflective Fiber Temperature Probe Based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance towards Low-Cost and Wireless Interrogation

Reflection fiber temperature sensors functionalized with plasmonic nanocomposite material using intensity-based modulation are demonstrated for the first time. Characteristic temperature optical response of the reflective fiber sensor is experimentally tested using Au-incorporated nanocomposite thin films deposited on the fiber tip, and theoretically validated using a thin-film-optic-based optical waveguide model. By optimizing the Au concentration in a dielectric matrix, Au nanoparticles (NP) exhibit a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption band in a visible wavelength that shows a temperature sensitivity ~0.025%/°C as a result of electron–electron and electron–phonon scattering of Au NP and the surrounding matrix. Detailed optical material properties of the on-fiber sensor film are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused-ion beam (FIB)-assisted transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Airy’s expression of transmission and reflection using complex optical constants of layered media is used to model the reflective optical waveguide. A low-cost wireless interrogator based on a photodiode transimpedance-amplifier (TIA) circuit with a low-pass filter is designed to integrate with the sensor. The converted analog voltage is wirelessly transmitted via 2.4 GHz Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) protocols. Feasibility is demonstrated for portable, remotely interrogated next-generation fiber optic temperature sensors with future capability for monitoring additional parameters of interest.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗