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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
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Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of Plasmonic Photoconductive Terahertz Emitters
Published on: July 8, 2013
Ultrafast silicon-based active plasmonics at telecom wavelengths.
Jan N Caspers1, Nir Rotenberg, Henry M van Driel
1Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. n.caspers@utoronto.ca
Optics Express
|October 14, 2010
Summary
Researchers achieved an ultrafast spectral shift in surface plasmon polariton coupling resonance using modulated silicon dielectric constant. This rapid shift, induced by pump pulses, recovers within 103 picoseconds due to surface recombination.
Area of Science:
- Optoelectronics
- Materials Science
- Nanophotonics
Background:
- Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are essential for nanoscale light manipulation.
- Controlling SPP resonance frequencies dynamically is crucial for advanced photonic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate an ultrafast spectral shift of SPP coupling resonance.
- To investigate the modulation of silicon dielectric constant for optical control.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a gold/silicon grating coupler.
- Employed 775 nm, 800 fs pump pulses to modulate silicon's dielectric constant.
- Probed the resonance with 1300-1700 nm pulses.
Main Results:
- Achieved an ultrafast spectral shift to the SPP coupling resonance.
- Observed a resonance shift exceeding its width with a pump fluence of 2.2 mJ cm(-2).
- Demonstrated recovery of the resonance within 103 picoseconds.
Conclusions:
- Ultrafast optical modulation of silicon dielectric constant enables dynamic control of SPP resonance.
- Surface recombination is the primary mechanism for resonance recovery.
