Masanobu Haraguchi

Two-dimensionally localized modes of a nanoscale gap plasmon waveguide

We report numerical analysis and experimental observation of two dimensionally localized plasmonic modes guided by a nanogap in a thin metal film. Dispersion, dissipation, and field structure of these modes are analyzed using the finite-difference time-domain algorithm. The experimental observation is conducted by the end-fire excitation of the proposed gap plasmon waveguides and detection of the generated modes using their edge scattering and charge coupled device camera imaging. Physical interpretation of the obtained results is presented and origins of the described modes are discussed.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of strongly localized plasmons on triangular metal wedges for subwavelength waveguiding

We report numerical analysis and experimental observation of strongly localized plasmons guided by a triangular metal wedge. Dispersion and dissipation of such wedge plasmons are analyzed using the finite-difference time-domain algorithm. Experimental observation is conducted by the end-fire excitation and near-field detection of the predicted plasmons on a 40° silver nanowedge. Good agreement with the theoretically predicted propagation distances is demonstrated. Differences between the theoretical and experimental field distribution are explained by insufficient resolution of the near-field optical probe.

Characteristics of gap plasmon waveguide with stub structures

We found that metal-dielectric-metal plasmon waveguides with a stub structure, i.e. a branch of the waveguide with a finite length, can function as wavelength selective filters of a submicron size. It was found that the transmission characteristics of such structures depend on the phase relationship between the plasmon wave passing through the stub and the one returning to the waveguide from the stub. We also propose structures with a lossless 90 degrees bend in a plasmon waveguide, utilizing a stub structure. Furthermore, we present a functional stub structure, e.g., a 1:1 demultiplexer and a wavelength selective demultiplexer.

Numerical analysis of coupled wedge plasmons in a structure of two metal wedges separated by a gap

This paper presents the results of the numerical finite-difference time-domain analysis of a strongly localized antisymmetric plasmon, coupled across a nanogap between two identical metal wedges. Dispersion, dissipation, field structure, and existence conditions of such coupled wedge plasmons are determined and investigated on an example of the fundamental coupled mode. It is shown that in the general case there exist three critical wedge angles and a critical gap width (separation between the wedge tips). If the gap width is larger than the critical separation, then the antisymmetric wedge plasmons can exist only in the ranges between the first and the second critical angles, and between the third critical angle and 180°. If the gap width is smaller or equal to the critical separation, then the third and the second critical angles merge, leaving only one interval of wedge angles within which the antisymmetric coupled wedge plasmons can exist. The effect of rounded wedge tips is also investigated and is s...

In situ and real-time observation of optical constants of metal films during growth

Abstract Optical constants of metal films with an average thickness in the 0–50 nm range have been studied by using the attenuated total reflection technique. The measurements were performed in situ during the growth of evaporated films. The effective optical constants of ultrathin discontinuous metal films have been evaluated precisely.

Numerical and experimental investigation of wedge tip radius effect on wedge plasmons

We report numerical analysis and experimental observation of strongly localized plasmons guided by triangular metal wedges and pay special attention to the effect of smooth (nonzero radius) tips. Dispersion, dissipation, and field structure of such wedge plasmons are analyzed using the compact two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain algorithm. Experimental observation is conducted by the end-fire excitation and near-field scanning optical microscope detection of the predicted plasmons on 40° silver nanowedges with the wedge tip radii of 20, 85, and 125 nm that were fabricated by the focused-ion beam method. The effect of smoothing wedge tips is shown to be similar to that of increasing wedge angle. Increasing wedge angle or wedge tip radius results in increasing propagation distance at the same time as decreasing field localization (decreasing wave number). Quantitative differences between the theoretical and experimental propagation distances are suggested to be due to a contribution of scattered b...

New type of photothermal spectroscopic technique

We propose a new type of photothermal spectroscopic technique. The experimental setup is simple and the experiment can be readily carried out, even in the difficult environments that are often required for opticaland surface studies of materials. Features of the method proposed here are nondestructive and noncontact; in addition, the simplicity of our design enables us easily to make the system resistant to vibration and drift, which leads to a high signal-to-noise ratio of the photothermal signal. A few experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the utilization of the method, e.g., a quantum-radiative efficiency of surface polaritons in an air-Ag film-BK-7 prism geometry has been evaluated.

Cross-Sectional Optimization of Whispering-Gallery Mode Sensor With High Electric Field Intensity in the Detection Domain

Optimal cross-sectional shapes for whispering-gallery mode sensors with prescribed emission wavelengths and resonance modes are generated through topology optimization based on the finite element method. The sensor is assumed to detect the state of the domain surrounded by the sensor. We identified the integral of the square of the electric field intensity over the detection domain and the quality factor (Q factor), which should be maximized, as key values for the sensor sensitivity, representing the detection limit for the relative permittivity change of the test object. Based on this, the integral of the square of the electric field intensity over the detection domain and the Q factor are studied as the optimization targets. In our numerical study, their optimal configuration characteristics are identified and analyzed. The resulting device has a small radius, a small detection domain and a concave shape with a center located next to the detection domain. We also succeeded in performing simultaneous optimization of the integral of the square of the electric field intensity over the detection domain and the Q factor.

Hydrogen Dissociation from Mg-doped GaN

We have investigated the thermal activation process of Mg dopant in Mg-doped GaN by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and Hall measurement with the van der Pauw configuration. We have found a systematic relationship between the amount of the hydrogen dissociated from the Mg-doped GaN layer by thermal annealing and the electronic conductive properties of the layer, i.e., Hall mobility, Hall carrier density and resistivity of the layer. The hydrogen in the Mg-doped GaN layer has been classified into at least two different modes. The first mode involves relatively larger activation energy of the dissociation process from the Mg-doped GaN layer, and the dissociation energy from the Mg-doped GaN to the atmosphere is 0.8–1.5 eV. The second mode has the dissociation energy of 0.2–0.5 eV. The former mode may be associate with the hydrogen passivation of the Mg dopant in GaN and the latter one may be closely related to the passivation of the electrical compensation mechanism for the positive hole carriers in the Mg-doped GaN.

Electrically driven plasmon chip: Active plasmon filter

We have developed an electrically driven plasmon chip, i.e., an active plasmon filter, consisting of a metallic subwavelength grating modulated by a nano-electro-mechanical system (NEMS) type actuator. The device shifts the plasmon resonance wavelength and the transmittance when an electrical signal is applied. The fabricated filter shows resonance wavelength shifts of 60 nm with a bias voltage of less than 10 V. A rigorous numerical calculation confirms the origin of the surface plasmon resonance and qualitatively explains the effect. Such NEMS optical devices offer rapid voltage-controlled plasmonic tuning of 20 MHz, opening up applications in agile sensing and nanoscale object trapping using actively tailored optical hot spots.