Lu Yong-Hua

Temperature Effects on Prism-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor

We theoretically analyse the temperature effects on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor in Kretschmann configuration. The temperature effects include the thermo-optic effect and the dispersion of thermal-optic coefficient in the dielectric along with the thermal expansion effect, phonon–electron scattering and electron–electron scattering in the metal layer. We simulate the temperature dependence of the resonance position and the sensitivity of the SPR sensor under wavelength-interrogation and angular-interrogation mode of operation and the differences are pointed out in the two modes.

Photonic Crystal Fibre SERS Sensors Based on Silver Nanoparticle Colloid

A photonic crystal fibre (PCF) surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor is developed based on silver nanoparticle colloid. Analyte solution and silver nanoparticles are injected into the air holes of PCF by a simple modified syringe to overcome mass-transport constraints, allowing more silver nanoparticles involved in SERS activity. This sensor offers significant benefit over the conventional SERS sensor with high flexibility, easy manufacture. We demonstrate the detection of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) molecules with the injecting way and the common dipping measurement. The injecting way shows obviously better results than the dipping one. Theoretical analysis indicates that this PCF SERS substrate offers enhancement of about 7 orders of magnitude in SERS active area.

Binary pure-phase filter optimized the optical distribution of solid immersion lens ☆

Abstract A binary (π/2−0) two-zone phase filter is proposed to optimize the optical distribution of solid immersion lens (SIL). The analysis using angular spectrum method shows that the phase filter can not only decrease the full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of the optical distribution but also increase the depth of focus of the SIL system. Furthermore, the lateral distribution profile is also optimized.

Quantum bus of metal nanoring with surface plasmon polaritons

We develop an architecture for distributed quantum computation using quantum bus of plasmonic circuits and spin qubits in self-assembled quantum dots. Deterministic quantum gates between two distant spin qubits can be reached by using an adiabatic approach in which quantum dots couple with highly detuned plasmon modes in a metallic nanoring. Plasmonic quantum bus offers a robust and scalable platform for quantum optics experiments and the development of on-chip quantum networks composed of various quantum nodes, such as quantum dots, molecules, and nanoparticles.

All-Optical Switching Based on Azo Polymer Material

Conventional all-optical switches based on azo polymer films and the all-optical switches based on the attenuated total reflection (ATR) geometry are investigated. A conventional switch system, including a pump beam of 532 nm and a probe beam of 650 nm, is based on the photoinduced birefringence effect of azo polymer. An ATR switch in a prism-multilayer configuration is achieved by changing the reflectance of the probe beam with an external pump beam. The ATR method provides the substantial improvement of the speed and the efficiency of the modulation over the conventional method. Although the azo polymer response still remains relatively slow, an enhanced nonlinear refractive index of the azo polymer film can effectively increase the modulation.

Design of a Fused-Silica Subwavelength Polarizing Beam Splitter Grating Based on the Modal Method

A polarizing beam splitter (PBS) design based on a fused-silica lamellar subwavelength transmission grating is demonstrated with the modal method, where TE- and TM-polarized waves are mainly diffracted in the −1st and 0th orders, respectively. The physical explanation of the grating diffraction is illustrated by the interference of the corresponding parts of the two propagating modes, which is very similar to a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. It is shown that diffraction efficients over 99% for a TM-polarized wave in the −1st order and 90% for a TE-polarized wave in the 0th order are obtained at the wavelength of 1.053 μm. The polarization transmission extinction ratios are better than 33 dB and 51 dB for the order 0th and the −1st order, respectively. The splitting properties of the PBS grating designed by the modal method are in good agreement with the results simulated by the rigorous coupled wave analysis method.

Sub-diffraction-Limit Imaging in Optical Hyperlens

Sub-diffraction-limit imaging in the optical hyperlens based on cylindrical metamaterials is studied. Some parameters of hyperlens, such as the dispersive relation and the divergence angle of imaging, are numerically analysed with the ray trajectory method and effective medium theory. The dependence of imaging properties on dielectric constant is discussed. As a result, a 0° divergence angle is obtained for the best imaging effect. This work will be helpful for the design, structure fabrication and resolution improvement of the optical hyperlens.

Effects of Laser-Induced Heating on the Photoinduced Birefringence in Azobenzene-Side-Chain Copolymer

The photoinduced birefringence was observed in the polymer poly[2-(4-(4-cyanophenyl) diazenyl phenyloxy) ethoxyl methacrylate] with a cw 532 nm laser. The azobenzene polymer character has been studied under the conditions of various illuminating time and light intensities. By analysing the processes of reorientation, the effect of laser-induced heating has been introduced to the buildup of photoinduced birefringence in azobenzene-side-chain copolymer. The curves for the buildup of birefringence were fitted with a modified function, i.e., biexponential curves and Gaussian curves. The relationship among all the parameters has also been presented. With the modified fitting function, we obtain a better fitting result.

Analytical Investigation of Transmission Properties of Metallic Gratings

We re-examine the classical one-dimensional transmission grating to explain the enhanced transmission in the surface impedance approximation. The nearly zero transmission and extraordinary transmission phenomena related to the surface plasmon are presented by analysing the scattering amplitude of waveguide mode at the output surface of grating. It is revealed that the transmission peaks are related to the Fabry–Perot factor and the interaction of surface plasmon and other diffractive orders.

Modulation of Splitting Beam Angle with Metal--Nonlinear Optical Material--Metal (M-NL-M) Array Structure

We demonstrate active manipulating plasmonic signals with metal-nonlinear optical material–metal (M-NL-M) arrays consisting of slits with variant widths. The parameters of the M-NL-M array structure are derived by theoretical analysis of dispersion relationship. The splitting angle can be modulated by the incident light intensity, and verified by a nonlinear two-dimensional finite difference time domain method. The physical principle of this phenomenon is analysed from the phase of surface plasmon polaritons and Fabry–Perot (F-P) resonance in slits.