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Published on: July 21, 2018
Efficient absorption of visible radiation by gap plasmon resonators
Michael G Nielsen1, Anders Pors, Ole Albrektsen
1Institute of Technology and Innovation (ITI), University of Southern Denmark, Niels Bohrs Allé 1, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark. mgni@iti.sdu.dk
Optics Express
|June 21, 2012
Summary
Researchers created a periodic array of gap plasmon resonators (GPRs) achieving ~94% broadband absorption for unpolarized light. These GPRs also show enhanced local fields, useful for optical applications.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Nanophotonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Gap plasmon resonators (GPRs) are crucial for manipulating light at the nanoscale.
- Achieving broadband and polarization-insensitive absorption is a key challenge in plasmonic device design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally demonstrate a novel periodic array of GPRs for broadband light absorption.
- To investigate the origin of polarization-insensitive absorption and enhanced local fields.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication and experimental characterization of a periodic array of differently-sized, circularly-shaped GPRs.
- Finite-element simulations to analyze absorption mechanisms and field enhancements.
- Scanning two-photon photoluminescence microscopy to probe local field intensities.
Main Results:
- Achieved average absorption of ~94% for unpolarized light across the visible spectrum (400-750 nm).
- Demonstrated polarization-insensitive broadband absorption attributed to localized gap surface plasmons.
- Observed enhanced local field intensities (~115) correlated with reflection spectra minima.
Conclusions:
- The designed GPR array offers highly efficient, polarization-insensitive broadband absorption.
- The findings highlight the potential of GPRs for advanced optical applications requiring strong light-matter interactions.
