Nanophotonics

Class 2

Surface plasmon polaritons

Surface plasmon polariton: EM wave at metal-dielectric
interface

z
x

  i  k x  k z t 
Ed  x, z , t   Ed , 0 e x z For propagating
bound waves:
  i  k x  k z t  - kx is real
E m ( x, z , t )  E m , 0 e x z - kz is imaginary

EM wave is coupled to the plasma oscillations of the surface charges

Derivation of surface plasmon dispersion relation: k()
2 2
2  Ed ,m
Wave equation:  E d , m   0  d , m 0 d , m k
t 2


Substituting SP wave + boundary conditions leads to the

Dispersion relation:
1/ 2
   m d 
x-direction: k x  k ' x ik "x      
c  m  d 

  
Note: in regular dielectric:  k   
 c 
 2
Dispersion relation: k

1/ 2
   m d 
x-direction: k x  k ' x ik "x   
c  m  d 
  
1/ 2
   m2 

z-direction: k z,m  k ' z ,m ik " z , m 
c   m   d 


Bound SP mode: kz imaginary: m + d < 0, kx real: m < 0

so: m < -d

  
k  
 c 
Dielectric constant of metals

Drude model: conduction electrons with damping: equation of motion

d 2x dx
m 2  m  eE0 e it no restoring force
dt dt
P Nex Ne 2
 2

  1  1  1  1 2
p

0E 0E m 0   i 

2
  i 
with collision frequency  and plasma frequency

 p2  p2 Ne 2
If  << p, then:  '  1 2 , " 3  p 
  m 0
 Measured data and model for Ag:
50 Drude model:
"  p2  p2
 ' 1 2 , " 3 
 
0

Measured data:
'
-50
Modified Drude model:


" '
Drude model:  p2  p2
'  '   2 , " 3 
 
-100
"
Modified Drude model:
'
-150
Contribution of
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
bound electrons
Wavelength (nm)
Ag:    5.45
Bound SP modes: m < -d

50

"
0
-d
Measured data:
-50 '


" '
Drude model:
'
-100
"bound SP mode:  < -
m d
Modified Drude model:
'
-150
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Wavelength (nm)
 1/ 2
   m d 
Surface plasmon dispersion relation: k x   
c  m  d 
 ck x
Radiative modes real kx
d 'm > 0)
real kz
p
Quasi-bound modes imaginary kx
d < 'm < 0)
p real kz
1 d
Dielectric: d
real kx
z Bound modes imaginary kz
x ('m < d)
Metal: m = m' + m"

Re kx
 1/ 2
   m d 
Surface plasmons dispersion: k x   
c  m  d 
 ck x
d large k
small wavelength

3.4 eV
(360 nm)

Ar laser: X-ray wavelengths

vac = 488 nm at optical frequencies
diel = 387 nm
Ag/SiO2 SP = 100 nm
2
k
Re kx 
Surface plasmon dispersion for thin films
Drude model
Two modes appear ε1(ω)=1-(ωp/ω) 2

Thinner film:
Shorter SP
wavelength

Propagation
Example: lengths: cm !!!
HeNe = 633 nm (infrared)
SP = 60 nm L-
L-(symm) L+(asymm)
Cylindrical metal waveguides
E
E
r
Fundamental z
SPP mode
on cylinder:
k

• Can this adiabatic coupling

scheme be realized in
practice?

taper theory first demonstrated by

Stockman, PRL 93, 137404 (2004)
Delivering light to the nanoscale
E
+++
+ +
++
2.3

|E| nanoscale
2.2
confinement Field symmetry at tip
similar to SPP mode in
2.1
conical waveguide
neff = kSPP/k0

1 µm
2.0
E
1.9 z
1 µm
x
1.8
k
1.7
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Waveguide width (µm)

Optics Express 16, 45 (2008)

Ewold Verhagen, Kobus Kuipers
Concentration of light in a plasmon taper: experiment

λ = 1.5 μm

Au

Er

Al2O3

Ewold Verhagen, Kobus Kuipers

Concentration of light in a plasmon taper: experiment
60 nm apex diam.
transmission

Er3+ energy levels

10 µm
1 µm

PL Intensity (counts/s)

(1490 nm)
exc = 1490 nm

Nano Lett. 7, 334 (2007)

Ewold Verhagen, Kobus Kuipers
Concentration of light in a plasmon taper: experiment
• Detecting upconversion luminescence from the air side of the film (excitation
of SPPs at substrate side)

550 nm

660 nm

E
z
Plasmonic hot-spot
x

k Theory: Stockman, PRL 93, 137404 (2004)

Optics Express 16, 45 (2008)

Ewold Verhagen, Kobus Kuipers
 FDTD Simulation: nanofocussing to < 100 nm
|E|2 z = -35 nm sym asym

Et, H
1 µm
E
+ ++
n1 = 1 ++ ++

1 µm
n2 = 1.74

• Nanofocusing predicted: 100 x |E|2

at 10 nm from tip
• 3D subwavelength confinement: tip
1.5 µm light focused to 92 nm (/16) start
• limited by taper apex (r=30 nm)

Optics Express 16, 45 (2008)

Ewold Verhagen, Kobus Kuipers
Coaxial MIM plasmon waveguides
FIB milling of coaxial waveguides
<w>=100 nm, L=485 nm <w>=50 nm, L=485 nm

100 nm 100 nm

• Silica substrates with 250-500 nm thick Ag

• Ring width: 50-100 nm
• Two-step milling process
• ~7° taper angle

Nano Lett. 9, in press (2009)

René de Waele, Stanley Burgos
Narrow channels show negative index

• Excitation above
resonance, >sp

• 25 nm-wide channel
in Ag filled with GaP

• Simulation shows
negative phase
velocity with respect
to power flow

• Negative refractive
index of -2

René de Waele, Stanley Burgos

Positive and negative index modes

René de Waele, Stanley Burgos

Plasmonic toolbox: , (), d - Engineer ()

Plasmonic integrated circuits Plasmonic multiplexer

Plasmonic concentrator Plasmonic lens

thin section

1.0

0.5
Y Axis Title

0.0

-0.5

-1.0

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Distance (nm)

And much more …..

Conclusions: surface plasmon polariton

Surface plasmon: bound EM wave at metal-dielectric interface

Dispersion: (k) diverges near the plasma resonance: large k, small 

Control dispersion: control (k), losses, concentration

Manipulate light at length scales

below the diffraction limit