Mapping complex profiles of light intensity with interferometric lithography.

Solving Maxwell's equations numerically to map electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of nanostructured metal surfaces can be a daunting task when studying non-periodic, extended patterns. However, for many nanophotonic applications such as sensing or photovoltaics it is often important to have an accurate description of the actual, experimental spatial field distributions near device surfaces. In this article, we show that the complex light intensity patterns formed by closely-spaced multiple apertures in a metal film can be faithfully mapped with sub-wavelength resolution, from near-field to far-field, in the form of a 3D solid replica of isointensity surfaces.

Real-Time Optical Measurements of Nanoparticle-Induced Melting and Resolidification Dynamics.

The photothermally induced nanoscale dynamics of rapid melting and resolidification of a thin layer of molecular material surrounding a nanoparticle is examined in real time by an all-optical approach. The method employs pulsed periodic modulation of the medium's dielectric constant through absorption of a low-duty-cycle laser pulse train by a single nanoparticle that acts as a localized heating source. Interpretation of experimental data, including inference of a phase change and of the liquid/solid interface dynamics, is obtained by comparing experimental data with results from coupled optical-thermal numerical simulations.

Orbital dynamics at atmospheric pressure in a lensed dual-beam optical trap.

Orbital dynamics of a dielectric microparticle in air using a lensed counter-propagating dual-beam trap was studied experimentally and by numerical simulations. Relationships between the dynamic parameters, trap geometry, and optical power were examined both experimentally and computationally. We found that this scheme can provide narrow bandwidth (/≈10) detection that is at least two orders of magnitude below typical values attainable with previously studied geometries.

Radiation Brightening from Virus-like Particles.

Concentration quenching is a well-known challenge in many fluorescence imaging applications. Here, we show that the optical emission from hundreds of chromophores confined onto the surface of a 28 nm diameter virus particle can be recovered under pulsed irradiation. We have found that as one increases the number of chromophores tightly bound to the virus surface, fluorescence quenching ensues at first, but when the number of chromophores per particle is nearing the maximum number of surface sites allowable, a sudden brightening of the emitted light and a shortening of the excited-state lifetime are observed.

Toward Virus-Like Surface Plasmon Strain Sensors.

The strong configuration dependence of collective surface plasmon resonances in an array of metal nanoparticles provides an opportunity to develop a bioinspired tool for sensing mechanical deformations in soft matter at the nanoscale. We study the feasibility of a strain sensor based on an icosahedral array of nanoparticles encapsulated by a virus capsid. When the system undergoes deformation, the optical scattering cross-section spectra as well as the induced electric field profile change.

Comment on "Surface Plasmons and Nonlocality: A Simple Model".

A Comment on the Letter by Y. Luo, A. I.

Modeling parameters for the spectral behavior of infrared frequency-selective surfaces.

Comparisons of experiment and theory are presented for transmission spectra over the range 2-15 mum of a set of frequency-selective surfaces consisting of arrays of simple dipole patches of aluminum on or in silicon. The arrays are fabricated by direct-write electron-beam lithography. Important parameters controlling the spectral shape are identified, such as dipole length, spacing, resistance, and dielectric surroundings.

Optical field enhancement at cusps between adjacent nanoapertures.

Optical nonlinear properties of cusps formed at the junction between two circular apertures in a metal film have been studied by scanning confocal microscopy. For gold, both second harmonic and broadband emission are enhanced when the pump polarization is directed across the gap between cusps, similar to the behavior of the recently studied bowtie antennas and apertures. However, field enhancements are also present when the polarization is perpendicular to the gap direction.

Influence of multiple reflections on transmission through a stack of plates.

We examine the problem of light transmission along the normal through a stack of flat plates whose thicknesses and separations vary. For a modest number of plates, an exact calculation is straightforward, but then one must address how to average over both the disorder in the stack and the distribution of incident wavelengths. Model calculations are used to show that an average over the light's distribution can suppress most of the fluctuations due to disorder.

Three-dimensional mapping of the light intensity transmitted through nanoapertures.

A general method to map the 3D spatial distribution of light emerging from nanoscale apertures is presented that uses photolithographic techniques to create polymer replicas of the intensity distribution. The resulting features varied with aperture diameter and exposure time and showed good correlation with theory. This method provides direct visualization of the intensity distribution in close proximity to nanostructures and overcomes limitations imposed by physical probes where the contribution of the probe to the map requires deconvolution.

Optical resonances in periodic surface arrays of metallic patches.

The transmission of light along the surface normal through an air-quartz-glass interface covered with a periodic array of thin, rectangular gold patches has been studied over the visible to infrared range. The various structures that are observed can be qualitatively understood as arising from standing-wave resonances set by the size and surroundings of the metal patches. A method-of-moments calculational scheme provides simulations in good quantitative agreement with the data.

Electromagnetic velocity fields near a conducting slab.

A calculational scheme for the electromagnetic fields of a charge moving at constant velocity parallel to a flat conducting slab is developed. The results can be evaluated for arbitrary speed of the charge. Comparisons are made with earlier work that was mostly limited to a low-speed approximation.