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Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
Dispersing light with surface plasmon polaritonic crystals
V Mikhailov1, G A Wurtz, J Elliott
1Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London, UK.
Physical Review Letters
|October 13, 2007
Summary
Researchers demonstrated high spectral dispersion using surface plasmon polaritonic (SPP) crystals. This nanophotonic approach offers superior wavelength splitting for advanced spectroscopy and optical communication applications.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Nanotechnology
- Optics and Light-Matter Interactions
Background:
- Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are electromagnetic waves coupled to electron oscillations at a metal-dielectric interface.
- Existing wavelength-splitting devices often lack the high dispersion required for advanced spectroscopic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and demonstrate high spectral dispersion of light using finite-size surface plasmon polaritonic crystals.
- To explore the potential of SPP crystals for next-generation optical devices.
Main Methods:
- Studied spectral dispersion of light on finite-size SPP crystals.
- Analyzed a two-stage process involving light conversion to SPP Bloch modes and subsequent refraction at the crystal boundary.
Main Results:
- Achieved angular wavelength separation orders of magnitude higher than current state-of-the-art devices.
- Demonstrated a novel method for enhancing spectral dispersion in plasmonic nanostructures.
Conclusions:
- The high spectral dispersion in SPP crystals is attributed to a two-stage conversion and refraction process.
- This plasmonic approach holds significant promise for integrated high-resolution spectroscopy, optical communications, and lab-on-a-chip technologies.
