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Published on: May 12, 2020
Light propagation within colloidal crystal wire fabricated by a dewetting process
Tadashi Mitsui1, Yutaka Wakayama, Tsunenobu Onodera
1Quantum Dot Research Center, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan. MITSUI.Tadashi@nims.go.jp
Nano Letters
|February 7, 2008
Summary
We fabricated a colloidal crystal wire using a simple dewetting process. Light propagation within the wire is mainly due to nanojet-induced mode coupling and partly whispering-gallery mode coupling.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Colloidal crystals offer unique optical properties.
- Controlling light propagation in nanostructures is crucial for optical devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate a colloidal crystal wire.
- To investigate light propagation mechanisms within the wire.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of colloidal crystal wire via a dewetting process.
- Near-field scanning optical microscopy for direct observation of light propagation.
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of a colloidal crystal wire from thousands of connected microspheres.
- Direct observation of light propagation within the wire.
- Identified nanojet-induced mode coupling as the primary mechanism for straight propagation.
- Identified whispering-gallery mode coupling as a secondary mechanism.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates a simple method for fabricating colloidal crystal wires.
- The findings elucidate the light propagation mechanisms in such structures, important for photonic applications.
