Loss compensation in a plasmonic nanoparticle array

The problem of heavy material and radiative losses in plasmonic devices has held back their implementation for compact and high-speed data storage and interconnects. One of the most interesting solutions to this problem currently under exploration is the addition of a gain material in close proximity to the metallic nanostructures for loss compensation. Here the physics of light transport in a nanoparticle array, and the operation of gain media in contact with the structure, are described and analytically modeled. A two-dimensional array of closely spaced gold nanoparticles has been fabricated by focused ion beam milling, and its electromagnetic response in the presence or absence of a dye coating has been simulated in preparation for pump-probe optical testing. The compensation of losses via a fluorophore coating has been proven for the first time in this geometry, for a physically realized sample.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Grantor

The University of Texas at Austin

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Miller, Shannon Marie

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Alú, Andrea

• Nanoparticles
• Plasmonics
• Plasmon
• Gain
• Loss compensation
• Array
• Gold
• Dye

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/2152/22320

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repositories.lib.utexas.edu:2152/22320