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Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Utilization of Plasmonic and Photonic Crystal Nanostructures for Enhanced Micro- and Nanoparticle Manipulation

Utilization of Plasmonic and Photonic Crystal Nanostructures for Enhanced Micro- and Nanoparticle Manipulation

Published on: September 27, 2011

Plasmonic nanostar photocathodes for optically-controlled directional currents.

Jacob Pettine^1,2, Priscilla Choo³, Fabio Medeghini¹

¹JILA, University of Colorado Boulder and National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.

Nature Communications

|March 15, 2020

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Researchers achieved all-optical control over femtosecond photocurrents using plasmonic gold nanostars. By tuning laser parameters, they directed electron emission from specific nanostar tips for precise spatiotemporal current manipulation.

Area of Science:

Nanophotonics and Plasmonics
Ultrafast Electron Dynamics
Quantum Optoelectronics

Background:

Plasmonic nanocathodes enable optical control of femtosecond photocurrents.
Angular photocurrent distributions in nanoplasmonic systems are poorly understood, hindering control.

Purpose of the Study:

To characterize multiphoton photoemission from plasmonic gold nanostars.
To demonstrate all-optical control over photocurrent direction and distribution.
To elucidate the mechanism behind spatiotemporal current control.

Main Methods:

Momentum-space characterization of photoemission.
Angle-resolved 2D velocity mapping and 3D reconstruction.
Classical plasmonic field simulations and quantum photoemission theory.

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Evaluating Plasmonic Transport in Current-carrying Silver Nanowires

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Plasmonic Trapping and Release of Nanoparticles in a Monitoring Environment

Plasmonic Trapping and Release of Nanoparticles in a Monitoring Environment

Published on: April 4, 2017

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Last Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Utilization of Plasmonic and Photonic Crystal Nanostructures for Enhanced Micro- and Nanoparticle Manipulation

Utilization of Plasmonic and Photonic Crystal Nanostructures for Enhanced Micro- and Nanoparticle Manipulation

Published on: September 27, 2011

Evaluating Plasmonic Transport in Current-carrying Silver Nanowires

Evaluating Plasmonic Transport in Current-carrying Silver Nanowires

Published on: December 11, 2013

Plasmonic Trapping and Release of Nanoparticles in a Monitoring Environment

Plasmonic Trapping and Release of Nanoparticles in a Monitoring Environment

Published on: April 4, 2017

Main Results:

Demonstrated selective excitation of gold nanostar tips via laser frequency or polarization.
Achieved versatile angular control of tip-aligned directional photoemission.
Identified surface-mediated nonlinear excitation and field enhancement at sharp tips as key mechanisms.

Conclusions:

Established a simple mechanism for femtosecond spatiotemporal current control in designer nanosystems.
Enabled precise, all-optical manipulation of photocurrents for advanced nanoelectronic devices and pulsed electron sources.