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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
07:39
Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
Active control and spatial mapping of mid-infrared propagating surface plasmons.
T Ribaudo1, E A Shaner, S S Howard
1Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.
Optics Express
|April 29, 2009
Summary
Researchers tuned a metal grating
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics and Nanophotonics
- Quantum Cascade Lasers
Background:
- Subwavelength apertures in metal films show enhanced transmission.
- Transmission depends on film periodicity and material optical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate coupling between a metal grating and a Quantum Cascade Laser.
- Control laser light coupling to plasmonic structures.
Main Methods:
- Actively tuning the optical properties of the metal grating.
- Utilizing a Quantum Cascade Laser source.
Main Results:
- Controlled coupling of laser light to the plasmonic grating.
- Switched grating between transmitting and surface wave coupling states.
- Imaged propagating surface waves on the metallic surface.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated active control over light coupling in plasmonic nanostructures.
- Enabled switching between distinct optical regimes using tunable gratings.
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