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Visible quantum plasmonics from metallic nanodimers.
F Alpeggiani1, S D'Agostino2, D Sanvitto3
1Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pavia, via Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Scientific Reports
|October 19, 2016
Summary
Scientists found that nonlinear materials interacting with metallic nanostructures can cause nonlinear effects at the single plasmon level. This nonclassical behavior of localized surface plasmons can be detected using advanced technology.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Plasmonics
- Materials science
Background:
- Localized surface plasmons (LSPs) in metallic nanostructures are crucial for light manipulation.
- Nonlinear optical effects are typically observed at high light intensities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate theoretical evidence for single-plasmon nonlinear effects.
- To explore the nonclassical behavior of LSPs in nonlinear materials.
- To propose experimental realizations for detecting these effects.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of bulk nonlinear materials interacting with ultra-sub-wavelength plasmonic modes.
- Numerical estimation of two-plasmon interaction energy.
- Analysis of second-order correlation functions for scattered light.
Main Results:
- Nonlinear effects at the single plasmon level are theoretically predicted in the visible range.
- Two-plasmon interaction energy is comparable to plasmon linewidths.
- Sub-Poissonian second-order correlation indicates nonclassical plasmon behavior.
Conclusions:
- Weakly interacting nonlinear materials with plasmonic modes can exhibit single-plasmon nonlinearities.
- Experimental detection is feasible using gold nanodimers and nonlinear materials.
- Proposed configurations overcome limitations of short plasmonic lifetimes.
