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Surface plasmons on opposite sides of a thin metal film surrounded by identical dielectrics interact to form coupled surface plasmons (CSP's). Corrugation of the metal film permits interaction of the CSP's with the radiation field. This paper reports the observation of optical emission from CSP's excited by the near-field coupling of molecules adjacent to a corrugated thin metal film embedded in photoresist.
Surface plasmon tunable filter is a new technology under development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This technology can be used to build a tunable mirror.
Organometallic phosphors are an important class of emissive materials used in high-efficiency organic light-emitting devices. However, problems of low photostability arise for blue-emitting phosphors due to chemical and environmental degradation and triplet quenching processes. Various approaches have been developed to improve the photostability of such phosphors, including the design of new organometallic molecules and control of host-dopant composition in thin films. Here, we demonstrate a different approach for improving the photostability of blue organometallic phosphors that uses localized surface plasmon resonances to increase the triplet recombination rate. The increased recombination rate improves the photostability of the phosphor due to the reduction in triplet quenching pathways. We show that the lifetime of phosphorescence is decreased significantly by nanoparticle-based plasmonic surfaces, which improves the photostability of the blue organometallic phosphor by up to a factor of 3.6. Other plasmonic surfaces are also tested and exhibit less significant photostability improvements due to a reduced spectral overlap of the plasmonic modes with the emitter and lower mode confinement. The use of plasmonic surfaces to improve phosphor photostability at blue wavelengths is distinct from other approaches because it involves modification to the local electromagnetic environment of the phosphor rather than modifications to the phosphor molecular structure or the emitting material composition.
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.
LF surface plasmons in tunnel junctions coupling to AC Josephson current, discussing I-V characteristics
The brightness of an emitter can be enhanced by metal-enhanced fluorescence, wherein the excitonic dipole couples with the electromagnetic field of the surface plasmon. In this report, we experimentally map the landscape of photoluminescence enhancement (EF exp ) of emitters in a plasmonic field as a function of the emitter–emitter separation, s, and the emitter–plasmon distance, t. We use Au nanoparticles overcoated with inert spacers as plasmonic systems and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) as an emitter bearing opposite surface charges. The t and s are varied by changing the spacer thickness and number density of QDs on the plasmonic surface, respectively. The electrostatic binding of emitters on the plasmonic surface and their number density are established by following the variation of zeta-potential. EF exp is high, when t is short and s is large; nevertheless, it decreases when the emitter–emitter interaction dominates due to plasmon assisted nonradiative processes. In the absence of a plasmonic field, the enhancement observed is attributed to environmental effects and is independent of s, confirming the role of the electric field. Indeed, the distance dependence of EF exp closely follows the decay of the plasmonic field upon dilution of the emitter concentration on nanoparticles’ surface (s = 18 nm). The QD–plasmon system is visualized in the framework of the Thomson problem, and classical electrodynamics calculations give the trends in t and s dependence of the photoluminescence. Being the first report on the simultaneous dependence of t and s on plasmon-enhanced photoluminescence, the results presented herein will open newer opportunities in the design of hybrid systems with a high brightness.
A surface plasmon device that operates in a transmissive mode. The light is coupled through optically transparent layers to a surface plasmon which alters the color of the light.
Surface polaritons guided by symmetric double metal film structures are analyzed, with particular attention given to the attenuation of the two long-range modes that occur. It is found that long-range surface plasmon polariton modes do exist for double electrode structures over a limited range of material parameters. Guided by thin metal electrodes, surface plasmon polaritons can achieve millimeter plus propagation distances in the near infrared. It is pointed out that if the slab is electrooptic, then very low voltages will be needed to manipulate the waves. The fact that long-range modes exist simultaneously with junction tunnel plasmons may be of use in providing directional radiation from light-emitting junctions or the inverse process of light to electrical energy conversion.
Devices based on surface plasmon filters having at least one metal-dielectric interface to support surface plasmon waves. A multi-layer-coupled surface plasmon notch filter is provided to have more than two symmetric metal-dielectric interfaces coupled with one another to produce a transmission spectral window with desired spectral profile and bandwidth. Such notch filters can form various color filtering devices for color flat panel displays.
Surface plasmon resonance imaging has in the past been applied to the characterization of thin films. In this study we apply the surface plasmon technique not to determine macroscopic spatial variations but rather to determine average microscopic information. Specifically, we deduce the dielectric properties of the surrounding gel matrix and information concerning the dynamics of the gelation process from the visible absorption characteristics of colloidal metal nanoparticles contained in aerogel pores. We have fabricated aerogels containing gold and silver nanoparticles. Because the dielectric constant of the metal particles is linked to that of the host matrix at the surface plasmon resonance, any change 'in the dielectric constant of the material surrounding the metal nanoparticles results in a shift in the surface plasmon wavelength. During gelation the surface plasmon resonance shifts to the red as the average or effective dielectric constant of the matrix increases. Conversely, formation of an aerogel or xerogel through supercritical extraction or evaporation of the solvent produces a blue shift in the resonance indicating a decrease in the dielectric constant of the matrix. From the magnitude of this shift we deduce the average fraction of air and of silica in contact with the metal particles. The surface area of metal available for catalytic gas reaction may thus be determined.
Voltage-induced broad-spectrum reflectivity change with surface-plasmon waves is reported. When white light is incident at a metal/electro-optical material interface, surface-plasmon waves can be excited under phase match conditions. This surface-plasmon resonance depends on the dielectric constants of both the metal and the electro-optical material. Photons in the surface-plasmon resonance wavelength range are absorbed by the interface. Since metals have large imaginary parts of their dielectric constants, the surface-plasmon resonances are broad and may cover all visible wavelengths. Applying voltage to the electro-optical material to change its dielectric constant can result in a change in the reflectivity at the interface. Experimental results showed a reflectivity change from almost 0% to about 40% under an applied voltage using a liquid-crystal and nickel film structure, and the results had good agreement with theoretical calculations. The theoretical calculations also predicted a 90% reflectivity recovery by exciting surface-plasmon waves at a Rh-Al/electro-optical material interface. These results demonstrate that a high efficiency white light modulator can be built using surface-plasmon excitations.
Surface plasmon tunable filter (SPTF) is a new technology invented in Jet Propulsion Lab. When a white light is incident on a metal/air/metal structure, in certain condition, surface plasmon waves can be excited at one metal/air material interface; those photons in surface plasmon resonances wavelength range will be converted into the energy of free electrons in the metal than coupled into the other metal film, and re-radiate out the color light.
Surface plasmons on silver nanostructures have a broad range of tunable resonance properties in visible and near-infrared regimes, which possess wide applications in nanophotonics and optoelectronics. Here, in this study, we use a femtosecond laser to excite surface plasmons on a silver film and trace the subsequent transient dynamics via photon-induced near-field electron microscopy (PINEM). A polarization experiment of PINEM demonstrates a conspicuous polarization dependence of the transient surface plasmon field on the silver film; however, unlike silver nanowires and nanorods, there is no polarization dependence for the PINEM intensity. This compelling finding suggests a thin film platform can be more easily used to identify the temporal and spatial overlaps between the pump laser and probe electron pulses in 4D ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM). Our work illustrates the femtosecond excitation and transient behavior of the surface plasmons on silver film and paves a universal, simple way for identifying the time zero in 4D UEM.
The tunability of the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of metallic nanoarcs is demonstrated with key relationships identified between geometric parameters of the arcs and their resonances in the infrared. The wavelength of the LSPRs is tuned by the mid-arc length of the nanoarc. The ratio between the attenuation of the fundamental and second order LSPRs is governed by the nanoarc central angle. Beneficial for plasmonic enhancement of harmonic generation, these two resonances can be tuned independently to obtain octave intervals through the design of a non-uniform arc-width profile. Because the character of the fundamental LSPR mode in nanoarcs combines an electric and a magnetic dipole, plasmonic nanoarcs with tunable resonances can serve as versatile building blocks for chiroptical and nonlinear optical devices.
NASA research on the feasibility of solar-energy conversion using surface plasmons is reviewed, with a focus on inelastic-tunnel-diode techniques for power extraction. The need for more efficient solar converters for planned space missions is indicated, and it is shown that a device with 50-percent efficiency could cost up to 40 times as much per sq cm as current Si cells and still be competitive. The parallel-processing approach using broadband carriers and tunable diodes is explained, and the physics of surface plasmons on metal surfaces is outlined. Technical problems being addressed include phase-matching sunlight to surface plasmons, minimizing ohmic losses and reradiation in energy transport, coupling into the tunnels by mode conversion, and gaining an understanding of the tunnel-diode energy-conversion process. Diagrams illustrating the design concepts are provided.
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.
A leaky-wave theory is applied to the study of the lateral shift of a bounded optical beam reflected from a prism-air-metal (and prism-metal-air) layered configuration with surface-plasmon excitations. The locations of the pole and the zero of the reflection coefficient for the leaky surface-plasmon mode are calculated as one varies the thickness of the center layer. The excited surface-plasmon mode is leaky because of the presence of the prism. Both the real part and the imaginary part of the pole are affected by the energy leakage. The detailed structure of the reflected intensity and the forward and backward shifts of the reflected beam are illustrated.
Gold ion implantation was carried out with the energy of 1.1 MeV into (100) oriented MgO single crystal. Implanted doses are 1, 3, 6, 10 x 10(exp 16) ions/sq cm. The gold irradiation results in the formation of gold ion implanted layer with a thickness of 0.2 microns and defect formation. In order to form gold colloids from the as-implanted samples, we annealed the gold implanted MgO samples in three kinds of atmospheres: (1)Ar only, (2)H2 and Ar, and (3)O2 and Ar. The annealing over 1200 C enhanced the gold colloid formation which shows surface plasmon resonance band of gold. The surface plasmon bands of samples annealed in three kinds of atmospheres were found to be at 535 nm (Ar only), 524 nm(H2+Ar), and 560 nm (02+Ar), The band positions of surface plasmon can be reversibly changed by an additional annealing.