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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 20, Iss. 13 — Jun. 18, 2012
  • pp: 13738–13747

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 20 > Issue 13 > Page 13738

Sub-wavelength energy concentration with electrically generated mid-infrared surface plasmons

A. Bousseksou, A. Babuty, J-P. Tetienne, I. Moldovan-Doyen, R. Braive, G. Beaudoin, I. Sagnes, Y. De Wilde, and R. Colombelli  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 13, pp. 13738-13747 (2012)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.20.013738


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Abstract

While freely propagating photons cannot be focused below their diffraction limit, surface-plasmon polaritons follow the metallic surface to which they are bound, and can lead to extremely sub-wavelength energy volumes. These properties are lost at long mid-infrared and THz wavelengths where metals behave as quasi-perfect conductors, but can in principle be recovered by artificially tailoring the surface-plasmon dispersion. We demonstrate - in the important mid-infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum - the generation onto a semiconductor chip of plasmonic excitations which can travel along long distances, on bent paths, to be finally focused into a sub-wavelength volume. The demonstration of these advanced functionalities is supported by full near-field characterizations of the electromagnetic field distribution on the surface of the active plasmonic device.

© 2012 OSA

OCIS Codes
(140.5960) Lasers and laser optics : Semiconductor lasers
(230.5750) Optical devices : Resonators
(240.6680) Optics at surfaces : Surface plasmons

ToC Category:
Optics at Surfaces

History
Original Manuscript: February 15, 2012
Revised Manuscript: April 19, 2012
Manuscript Accepted: May 14, 2012
Published: June 5, 2012

Citation
A. Bousseksou, A. Babuty, J-P. Tetienne, I. Moldovan-Doyen, R. Braive, G. Beaudoin, I. Sagnes, Y. De Wilde, and R. Colombelli, "Sub-wavelength energy concentration with electrically generated mid-infrared surface plasmons," Opt. Express 20, 13738-13747 (2012)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-20-13-13738


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