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Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
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Phase-Resolved Surface Plasmon Scattering Probed by Cathodoluminescence Holography.
Nick J Schilder1, Harshal Agrawal1, Erik C Garnett1
1Center for Nanophotonics, AMOLFScience Park 104, 1098XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
ACS Photonics
|June 23, 2020
Summary
Scientists developed Fourier-transform cathodoluminescence (CL) holography to detect the phase of light scattered from nanostructures. This technique reveals nanoscale optical properties, advancing the study of light-matter interactions.
Area of Science:
- Nanophotonics and Plasmonics
- Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy
- Coherent Light Scattering
Background:
- Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy offers deep-subwavelength spatial resolution for analyzing optical modes in nanostructures.
- Existing CL techniques primarily provide intensity information, lacking the crucial phase information of scattered light.
- Understanding the phase of light scattering is essential for a complete picture of light-matter interactions at the nanoscale.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate a novel method for measuring the phase of light emitted from nanostructures using CL.
- To reconstruct angle-resolved phase distributions and scattering dipole properties of various plasmonic and dielectric nanostructures.
- To enable new studies of coherent light scattering and surface waves with unprecedented nanoscale resolution.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-energy (1-100 keV) electrons to excite plasmonic and dielectric nanostructures.
- Employed Fourier-transform CL holography to capture and analyze the far-field phase distribution of scattered light.
- Reconstructed angle-resolved phase distributions from holographic data.
Main Results:
- Successfully determined the far-field phase distribution of fields scattered from plasmonic nanoholes, nanocubes, and helical nanoapertures.
- Reconstructed angle-resolved phase distributions, providing detailed information about the optical response.
- Derived the relative strength and phase of induced scattering dipoles within the nanostructures.
Conclusions:
- Fourier-transform CL holography is a powerful new technique for accessing phase information in nanoscale optical phenomena.
- This method opens up new avenues for studying coherent light scattering and surface waves with nanoscale spatial resolution.
- The ability to measure phase complements intensity measurements, offering a more comprehensive understanding of nanostructure optical properties.
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