DEVELOPMENT AND NEAR-FIELD CHARACTERIZATION OF SURFACE PLASMON WAVEGUIDES

Quantitative analysis of localized surface plasmons based on molecular probing

International audience; We report on the quantitative characterization of the plasmonic optical near-field of a single silver nanoparticle. Our approach relies on nanoscale molecular molding of the confined electromagnetic field by photoactivated molecules. We were able to directly image the dipolar profile of the near-field distribution with a resolution better than 10 nm and to quantify the near-field depth and its enhancement factor. A single nanoparticle spectral signature was also assessed. This quantitative characterization constitutes a prerequisite for developing nanophotonic applications.

Design, near-field characterization, and modeling of 45 circle surface-plasmon Bragg mirrors

The development of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) optical elements is mandatory in order to achieve surface plasmon based photonics. A current approach to reach this goal is to take advantage of the interaction of SPP with defects and design elements obtained by the micro- or nano-structuration of the metal film. In this work, we have performed a detailed study of the performance and behavior of SPP-Bragg mirrors, designed for 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} incidence, based on this approach. Mirrors consisting of gratings of both metal ridges on the metal surface and grooves engraved in the metal, fabricated by means of electron beam lithography and focused ion beam, have been consi…

Nanophotopolymerization Triggered by the Enhanced Optical Near Field of Metallic Nanoparticles

International audience; A novel approach is reported for imaging and quantifying both the depth and the strength of the optical near-field, of a single colloidal metal nanoparticle, associated with localized surface plasmons. It will be emphasized that this technique relies on a nanoscale molecular molding of the confined electromagnetic field of metal colloids, irradiated at their resonance, by a photo-activated polymer, which enabled us to directly image the dipolar profile of the near-field distribution with an unprecedented resolution, better than 10 nm. Moreover, the approach used enabled one to quantify the near-field enhancement factor. This approach has overcome all the difficulties…

Near-field characterization of Bragg mirrors engraved in surface plasmon waveguides

International audience; Surface plasmon waveguides (SPW's) are metal ridges featuring widths in the micrometer range and thicknesses of a few tens of nanometers. A focused ion beam has been used to carve microscatterers into gold SPW's and the near-field distributions around these microstructures are observed by means of photon scanning tunneling microscopy (PSTM). On the basis of near-field images, we show that a finite length periodic arrangement of narrow slits can reflect a surface plasmon mode propagating along a SPW. The reflection efficiency of the micrograting is found to depend upon the number of slits, the period of the grating, and the incident wavelength. The optimum reflection …

Influence of the filling factor on the spectral properties of plasmonic crystals

Plasmonics crystals (PCs) comprised of finite-size triangular lattices of gold bumps deposited on a gold thin film are studied by means of a near-field optical microscope. The plasmonic crystals fabricated by electron-beam lithography are illuminated by an incident surface plasmon polariton excited in the Kretschmann-Raether configuration at the gold/air thin-film interface for incident free-space wavelengths in the range $740--820\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. Based on the measurement of the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) damping distance in the crystals, the existence of a band gap for an incident SPP traveling along the two symmetry axes $\ensuremath{\Gamma}M$ and $\ensuremath…

Efficient surface plasmon field confinement in one-dimensional crystal line-defect waveguides

International audience; The authors operate a near-field optical microscope to investigate surface plasmon polariton (SPP) propagation along linear waveguides opened into one-dimensional (1D) plasmonic crystals, i.e., crystals featuring a single lattice plane orientation. They show that efficient SPP field confinement can be achieved by this type of waveguide although no band gap exists in the direction perpendicular to the waveguide axis. From computed wave-vector diagrams, they show that 1D plasmonic crystals can open a wide range of prohibited propagation directions preventing from a significant coupling of the waveguide SPP modes with the crystal Bloch modes. Finally, the authors demons…

Tuning of an Optical Dimer Nanoantenna by Electrically Controlling Its Load Impedance

International audience; Optical antennas are elementary units used to direct optical radiation to the nanoscale. Here we demonstrate an active control over individual antenna performances by an external electrical trigger. We find that by an in-plane command of an anisotropic load medium, the electromagnetic interaction between individual elements constituting an optical antenna can be controlled, resulting in a strong polarization and tuning response. An active command of the antenna is a prerequisite for directing light wave through the utilization of such a device.

Surface plasmon routing along right angle bent metal strips

International audience; An efficient routing of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) is of fundamental importance in the development of SPP-based photonics. This paper reports that microgratings acting as Bragg mirrors can guide SPP along metal stripes waveguides featuring 90 degrees bents. The measurement of the mirrors efficiency, performed by means of photon scanning tunneling microscopy, shows that bent losses as low as 1.9 dB can be achieved. Finally, we demonstrate operating SPP beamsplitters obtained by an appropriate design of the Bragg mirrors constituting elements. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Reversible Strong Coupling in Silver Nanoparticle Arrays Using Photochromic Molecules

International audience; In this Letter, we demonstrate a reversible strong coupling regime between a dipolar surface plasmon resonance and a molecular excited state. This reversible state is experimentally observed on silver nanoparticle arrays embedded in a polymer film containing photochromic molecules. Extinction measurements reveal a clear Rabi splitting of 294 meV, corresponding to ∼13% of the molecular transition energy. We derived an analytical model to confirm our observations, and we emphasize the importance of spectrally matching the polymer absorption with the plasmonic resonance to observe coupled states. Finally, the reversibility of this coupling is illustrated by cycling the …