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Nanoelectromechanical modulation of a strongly-coupled plasmonic dimer
Jung-Hwan Song1, Søren Raza2, Jorik van de Groep1,3
1Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
Nature Communications
|January 5, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) for an electro-optical modulator. This device utilizes the unique light-squeezing properties of closely spaced plasmonic nanoparticles for efficient light modulation.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics and Nanophotonics
- Nanoelectromechanical Systems (NEMS)
- Light-Matter Interactions
Background:
- Plasmonic nanoparticles exhibit unique light-squeezing capabilities at nanoscale gaps.
- These interactions offer fundamental insights into light-matter coupling.
- Nanoelectromechanical systems enable precise control over nanoscale phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) for an electro-optical modulator.
- To investigate the hybridization and coupling of plasmonic modes in sub-nanometer gaps.
- To explore the mechanical tunability of plasmon resonances for optical modulation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a NEMS device utilizing plasmonic nanoparticles.
- In situ electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) within a transmission electron microscope (TEM).
- Mapping of spectral and spatial plasmonic mode evolution under varying coupling regimes.
Main Results:
- Observed strong coupling regime with significant mechanical tunability (~250 meV/nm) of plasmon resonance at ~1 nm gap.
- Identified the bonding-dipole plasmon resonance as highly sensitive to gap spacing.
- Demonstrated a prototype NEMS light-intensity modulator operating at ~10 MHz with low power consumption (4 fJ/bit).
Conclusions:
- NEMS can leverage strong plasmon coupling for efficient electro-optical modulation.
- Sub-nanometer gap plasmonics offer substantial tunability before quantum effects dominate.
- The developed NEMS modulator shows promise for low-power optical applications.
