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Plasmonic Fabry-Pérot nanocavity
Volker J Sorger1, Rupert F Oulton, Jie Yao
1NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centre, 3112 Etcheverry Hall, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Nano Letters
|August 14, 2009
Summary
We developed a new all-plasmonic nanoscopic cavity with high Q-factors for visible light. This surface plasmon resonator enhances light-matter interactions for nanoscale optical processes.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Nanophotonics
- Optical Cavities
Background:
- Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are crucial for nanoscale light manipulation.
- Existing plasmonic cavities face limitations in Q-factor and mode confinement.
- Enhancing light-matter interactions at the nanoscale is a key challenge in optics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally demonstrate a novel all-plasmonic nanoscopic cavity.
- To achieve high Q-factors and subwavelength mode confinement at visible frequencies.
- To investigate the physics governing plasmonic nanocavities and their potential for enhanced optical processes.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of tall metallic fins using lithography and electroplating.
- Construction of a Fabry-Pérot type resonator for surface plasmon confinement.
- Characterization of cavity performance, including Q-factors and optical mode properties.
- Modeling the cavity physics using a modified Fabry-Pérot model and experimental permittivity data.
Main Results:
- Achieved Q-factors up to 200 at visible frequencies.
- Demonstrated efficient reflection (up to 98%) of incident surface plasmons.
- Concentrated light within a subwavelength cavity mode.
- Visualized the trade-off between propagation loss and SPP spatial extent.
- Observed agreement between experimental results and theoretical models.
Conclusions:
- The novel all-plasmonic nanocavity offers significant improvements in Q-factor and confinement.
- The design effectively minimizes SPP scattering and propagation losses.
- The cavity enables enhanced weak optical processes like spontaneous emission and nonlinear optics.
- This technology holds promise for nanoscale photonic devices and applications.
