Alireza R. Rashed

A multiband perfect absorber based on hyperbolic metamaterials.

In recent years, considerable research efforts have been focused on near-perfect and perfect light absorption using metamaterials spanning frequency ranges from microwaves to visible frequencies. This relatively young field is currently facing many challenges that hampers its possible practical applications. In this paper, we present grating coupled-hyperbolic metamaterials (GC-HMM) as multiband perfect absorber that can offer extremely high flexibility in engineering the properties of electromagnetic absorption. The fabricated GC-HMMs exhibit several highly desirable features for technological applications such as polarization independence, wide angle range, broad- and narrow- band modes, multiband perfect and near perfect absorption in the visible to near-IR and mid-IR spectral range. In addition, we report a direct application of the presented system as an absorption based plasmonic sensor with a record figure of merit for this class of sensors.

Double strong exciton-plasmon coupling in gold nanoshells infiltrated with fluorophores

We report on the broadband resonant energy transfer processes observed in dye doped gold nanoshells, consisting of spherical particles with a dielectric core (SiO2) covered by a thin gold shell. The silica core has been doped with rhodamine B molecules in order to harness a coherent plasmon-exciton coupling between chromophores and plasmonic shell. This plasmon-exciton interplay depends on the relative spectral position of their bands. Here, we present a simultaneous double strong coupling plasmon-exciton and exciton-plasmon. Indeed, experimental observations reveal of a transmittance enhancement as function of the gain in a wide range of optical wavelengths (about 100 nm), while scattering cross sections remains almost unmodified. These results are accompanied by an overall reduction of chromophore fluorescence lifetimes that are a clear evidence of nonradiative energy transfer processes. The increasing of transmission in the range of 630–750 nm is associated with a striking enhancement of the extinction...

Plasmon mediated super-absorber flexible nanocomposites for metamaterials

A flexible host has been selected to achieve, for the first time, functional nanocomposites based on CdSe@ZnS core-shell type quantum dots (QDs) and Au nanoparticles (NPs), simultaneously dispersed in a polymer matrix. Coherent interactions between QDs and plasmonic Au NPs embedded in PDMS films have been demonstrated to lead to a relevant enhancement of the absorption cross-section of the QDs, remarkably modifying the optical response of the entire system. Optical and time resolved spectroscopy studies revealed an active gain-plasmon feedback behind the super-absorbing overall effect.

Plasmon-Exciton Resonant Energy Transfer: Across Scales Hybrid Systems

The presence of an excitonic element in close proximity of a plasmonic nanostructure, under certain conditions, may lead to a nonradiative resonant energy transfer known as Exciton Plasmon Resonant Energy Transfer (EPRET) process. The exciton-plasmon coupling and dynamics have been intensely studied in the last decade; still many relevant aspects need more in-depth studies. Understanding such phenomenon is not only important from fundamental viewpoint, but also essential to unlock many promising applications. In this review we investigate the plasmon-exciton resonant energy transfer in different hybrid systems at the nano- and mesoscales, in order to gain further understanding of such processes across scales and pave the way towards active plasmonic devices.

Battling absorptive losses by plasmon–exciton coupling in multimeric nanostructures

The strong inherent optical losses present in plasmonic nanostructures significantly limit their technological applications at optical frequencies. Here, we report on the interplay between plasmons and excitons as a potential approach to selectively reduce ohmic losses. Samples were prepared by functionalizing plasmonic core–shell nanostructures with excitonic molecules embedded in silica shells and interlocked by silica spacers to investigate the role played by the plasmon–exciton elements separation. Results obtained for different silica spacer thicknesses are evaluated by comparing dispersions of plasmonic multimers with respect to the corresponding monomers. We have observed fluorophore emission quenching by means of steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as a significant shortening of the corresponding fluorescence lifetime using TCSPC data. These results are accompanied by the simultaneous enhancement of Rayleigh scattering and transmittance, revealing more effective absorptive loss mitigation for multimeric systems. Moreover, upon decreasing the thickness of the intermediate silica layer between gold cores and the external gain functionalized silica shell, the efficiency of exciton–plasmon resonant energy transfer (EPRET) was significantly enhanced in both multimeric and monomeric samples. Simulation data along with experimental results confirm that the hybridized plasmon fields of multimers lead to more efficient optical loss compensation with respect to the corresponding monomers.

cBright off-axis directional emission with plasmonic corrugations

In this work, a new plasmonic bulls-eye structure is introduced to efficiently harvest the emitted light from diamond nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers. We show that the presence of a simple metal sub-layer underneath of a conventional bulls-eye antenna, separated by a dielectric layer, results in the spontaneous emission enhancement and increment in out-coupled light intensity. High Purcell factor is accessible in such a structure, which consequently boosts efficiency of the radiated light intensity from the structure. The structure shows considerable enhancement in far-field intensity, about three times higher than that of a one-side corrugated (conventional) optimized structure. In addition, we study for the first time asymmetric structures to steer emitted beams in two-axis. Our results show that spatial off-axial steering over a cone is approachable by introducing optimal asymmetries to grooves and ridges of the structure. The steered light retains a level of intensity even higher than conventional symmetric structures. A high value of directivity of 16 for off-axis steering is reported.

Extraordinary Effects in Quasi-Periodic Gold Nanocavities: Enhanced Transmission and Polarization Control of Cavity Modes

Plasmonic quasi-periodic structures are well-known to exhibit several surprising phenomena with respect to their periodic counterparts, due to their long-range order and higher rotational symmetry. Thanks to their specific geometrical arrangement, plasmonic quasi-crystals offer unique possibilities in tailoring the coupling and propagation of surface plasmons through their lattice, a scenario in which a plethora of fascinating phenomena can take place. In this paper we investigate the extraordinary transmission phenomenon occurring in specifically patterned Thue-Morse nanocavities, demonstrating noticeable enhanced transmission, directly revealed by near-field optical experiments, performed by means of a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM). SNOM further provides an intuitive picture of confined plasmon modes inside the nanocavities and confirms that localization of plasmon modes is based on size and depth of nanocavities, while cross talk between close cavities via propagating plasmons holds the polarization response of patterned quasi-crystals. Our performed numerical simulations are in good agreement with the experimental results. Thus, the control on cavity size and incident polarization can be used to alter the intensity and spatial properties of confined cavity modes in such structures, which can be exploited in order to design a plasmonic device with customized optical properties and desired functionalities, to be used for several applications in quantum plasmonics.

Broadband optical transparency in plasmonic nanocomposite polymer films via exciton-plasmon energy transfer

Inherent absorptive losses affect the performance of all plasmonic devices, limiting their fascinating applications in the visible range. Here, we report on the enhanced optical transparency obtained as a result of the broadband mitigation of optical losses in nanocomposite polymeric films, embedding core-shell quantum dots (CdSe@ZnS QDs) and gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs). Exciton-plasmon coupling enables non-radiative energy transfer processes from QDs to metal NPs, resulting in gain induced transparency of the hybrid flexible systems. Experimental evidences, such as fluorescence quenching and modifications of fluorescence lifetimes confirm the presence of this strong coupling between plexcitonic elements. Measures performed by means of an ultra-fast broadband pump-probe setup demonstrate loss compensation of gold NPs dispersed in plastic network in presence of gain. Furthermore, we compare two films containing different concentrations of gold NPs and same amount of QDs, to investigate the role of acceptor concentration (Au-NPs) in order to promote an effective and efficient energy transfer mechanism. Gain induced transparency in bulk systems represents a promising path towards the realization of loss compensated plasmonic devices.