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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Fabrication and Operation of a Nano-Optical Conveyor Belt
Published on: August 26, 2015
Optical waves on nanoparticle chains coupled with surfaces
D Van Orden1, Y Fainman, V Lomakin
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA. dvanorden@physics.ucsd.edu
Abstract:
Linear chains of metal nanoparticles coupled with dielectric surfaces support a variety of optical phenomena including traveling and leaky waves of several types. We investigate the chain-surface interactions and show that traveling waves can remain bound to the chain, radiate into surface wave beams, or radiate into space and surface wave beams. Radiation into surface waves may be exploited to create a leaky surface wave antenna with potential applications to surface wave microscopy.

