Mondher Besbes

Implementation of PT symmetric devices using plasmonics: principle and applications

The so-called PT symmetric devices, which feature ε((-x)) = ε((x))* associated with parity-time symmetry, incorporate both gain and loss and can present a singular eigenvalue behaviour around a critical transition point. The scheme, typically based on co-directional coupled waveguides, is here transposed to the case of variable gain on one arm with fixed losses on the other arm. In this configuration, the scheme exploits the full potential of plasmonics by making a beneficial use of their losses to attain a critical regime that makes switching possible with much lowered gain excursions. Practical implementations are discussed based on existing attempts to elaborate coupled waveguide in plasmonics, and based also on the recently proposed hybrid plasmonics waveguide structure with a small low-index gap, the PIROW (Plasmonic Inverse-Rib Optical Waveguide).

Plasmonic inverse rib waveguiding for tight confinement and smooth interface definition

A plasmonic inverse rib optical waveguide geometry is proposed and investigated, inspired by the recent CdS-nanorod-on-silver plasmonic laser. The proposed technology is suitable for large scale fabrication. It only uses a single wet resist development and several coatings onto a flat metal surface to define the waveguide geometry. It thus relieves the need to etch or lift-off a noble metal. High-index sol-gel inverse ribs are privileged candidates for the tightest confinement. We investigate and explain the guidance mostly for the case of Au and the wavelengths around λ=633 nm. We get spot sizes down to ∼25×60 nm2. We notably describe how easily the tight confinement is granted and the reasons why only a single critical step defines the modal geometry. We finally detail how the classical building-blocks of integrated optics such as distributed reflectors and couplers can be made within the very same approach and integrated into devices for which losses are described.

Directional surface enhanced Raman scattering on gold nano-gratings

Directional plasmon excitation and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) emission were demonstrated for 1D and 2D gold nanostructure arrays deposited on a flat gold layer. The extinction spectrum of both arrays exhibits intense resonance bands that are redshifted when the incident angle is increased. Systematic extinction analysis of different grating periods revealed that this band can be assigned to a propagated surface plasmon of the flat gold surface that fulfills the Bragg condition of the arrays (Bragg mode). Directional SERS measurements demonstrated that the SERS intensity can be improved by one order of magnitude when the Bragg mode positions are matched with either the excitation or the Raman wavelengths. Hybridized numerical calculations with the finite element method and Fourier modal method also proved the presence of the Bragg mode plasmon and illustrated that the enhanced electric field of the Bragg mode is particularly localized on the nanostructures regardless of their size.

Cooperative electromagnetic interactions between nanoparticles for solar energy harvesting.

The cooperative electromagnetic interactions between discrete resonators have been widely used to modify the optical properties of metamaterials. Here we propose a general approach for engineering these interactions both in the dipolar approximation and for any higher-order description. Finally we apply this strategy to design broadband absorbers in the visible range from simple n-ary arrays of metallic nanoparticles.The cooperative electromagnetic interactions between discrete resonators have been widely used to modify the optical properties of metamaterials. Here we propose a general evolutionary approach for engineering these interactions in arbitrary networks of resonators. To illustrate the performances of this approach, we designed by genetic algorithm, an almost perfect broadband absorber in the visible range made with a simple binary array of metallic nanoparticles.

High efficiency quasi-monochromatic infrared emitter

Incandescent radiation sources are widely used as mid-infrared emitters owing to the lack of alternative for compact and low cost sources. A drawback of miniature hot systems such as membranes is their low efficiency, e.g., for battery powered systems. For targeted narrow-band applications such as gas spectroscopy, the efficiency is even lower. In this paper, we introduce design rules valid for very generic membranes demonstrating that their energy efficiency for use as incandescent infrared sources can be increased by two orders of magnitude.

Superlens in the time domain.

It has been predicted theoretically and demonstrated experimentally that a planar slab supporting surface plasmons or surface phonon polaritons can behave as a super lens. However, the resolution is limited by the losses of the slab. In this Letter, we point out that the resolution limit imposed by losses can be overcome by using time-dependent illumination.

Size-dependent infrared properties of MgO nanoparticles with evidence of screening effect

We have investigated the infrared (IR) absorption properties of MgO nanoparticles (NPs) with the means of molecular dynamics simulations. Several size effects have been observed. We show in particular that the absorption of IR radiation does not occur predominantly through the polariton mode but preferentially through surface modes. This enhanced surface absorption is found to result from the absence of dielectric screening of the first atomic layer of the NPs. We demonstrate concomitantly that a macroscopic description of electrodynamics is inadequate to capture these unusual IR properties.

Hybridization of electromagnetic numerical methods through the G-matrix algorithm

For the sake of numerical performance, we hybridize two common approaches often used in electromagnetic computations, namely the finite-element method and the aperiodic Fourier modal method. To that end, we propose an extension of the classical S-matrix formalism to numerical situations, which requires handling different mathematical representations of the electromagnetic fields. As shown with a three-dimensional example, the proposed G-matrix formalism is stable and allows for an enhanced performance in terms of numerical accuracy and efficiency.

Field enhancement and target localization impact on the biosensitivity of nanostructured plasmonic sensors

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors using field enhancement in nanograting surfaces can overcome sensitivity limitations of conventional SPR biosensors. Nevertheless, the correlation of the local field enhancement established in such structures with sensitivity enhancement has not been extensively studied. We present a numerical study of the coupling effect between the various plasmon modes present in nanograting structures with various structural parameters. We give here a quantitative demonstration of the improvement in sensing performance of SPR biosensors by selective localization of the target molecules in the regions where the electromagnetic field intensity is locally enhanced.

Microsecond switchable thermal antenna

We propose a thermal antenna that can be actively switched on and off at the microsecond scale by means of a phase transition of a metal-insulator material, the vanadium dioxide (VO2). This thermal source is made of a periodically patterned tunable VO2 nanolayer, which support a surface phonon-polariton in the infrared range in their crystalline phase. Using electrodes properly registered with respect to the pattern, the VO2 phase transition can be locally triggered by ohmic heating so that the surface phonon-polariton can be diffracted by the induced grating, producing a highly directional thermal emission. Conversely, when heating less, the VO2 layers cool down below the transition temperature, the surface phonon-polariton cannot be diffracted anymore so that thermal emission is inhibited. This switchable antenna could find broad applications in the domain of active thermal coatings or in those of infrared spectroscopy and sensing.We introduce a thermal antenna which can be actively switched by phase transition. The source makes use of periodically patterned vanadium dioxide, a metal-insulator phase transition material which supports a surface phonon-polariton (SPP) in the infrared range in its crystalline phase. Using electrodes properly registred with respect to the pattern, the phase transition of VO2 can be localy triggered within few microseconds and the SPP can be diffracted making the thermal emission highly directionnal. This switchable antenna could find broad applications in the domain of active thermal coatings or in those of infrared spectroscopy and sensing.