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Updated: May 21, 2026
07:39
Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
Perfect coupling of light to surface plasmons by coherent absorption
Heeso Noh1, Yidong Chong, A Douglas Stone
1Department of Applied Physics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|June 12, 2012
Summary
We theoretically demonstrate perfect light absorption in metallic nanostructures using the time-reversed mode of a surface plasmon laser (spaser). This critical coupling method enables efficient energy transfer to surface plasmons for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Nanophotonics
- Quantum Optics
Background:
- Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) enables light interaction with metallic nanostructures.
- Surface plasmon lasers (spasers) generate coherent surface plasmons.
- Efficient light absorption in nanostructures is crucial for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically demonstrate complete light absorption in metallic nanostructures.
- To show energy transfer to surface plasmons via spaser excitation.
- To explore applications of perfect light-matter coupling at the nanoscale.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of light-surface plasmon interaction.
- Utilizing the time-reversed mode of a surface plasmon laser (spaser).
- Applying the concept of critical coupling to nanocavities.
Main Results:
- Coherent light can be completely absorbed and transferred to surface plasmons.
- Achieved narrow-band perfect absorption through critical coupling.
- Demonstrated a method applicable to 2D and 3D metallic nanostructures.
Conclusions:
- The proposed method offers a novel route for efficient light harvesting in nanostructures.
- Perfect coupling of light to nanostructures has significant potential.
- Applications include nanoscale probing, background-free spectroscopy, and ultrasensitive sensing.
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