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Active spatial control of plasmonic fields

Nature Photonics volume 5, pages 360–363 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

The field of plasmonics1 offers a route to control light fields with metallic nanostructures through the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons2. These surface waves, bound to a metal dielectric interface, can tightly confine electromagnetic energy3. Active control over surface plasmon polaritons has potential for applications in sensing4, photovoltaics5, quantum communication6,7, nanocircuitry8,9, metamaterials10,11 and super-resolution microscopy12. We achieve here active control of plasmonic fields using a digital spatial light modulator. Optimizing the plasmonic phases through feedback, we focus surface plasmon polaritons at a freely prechosen point on the surface of a nanohole array. Digital addressing and scanning of surface plasmon polaritons without mechanical motion may enable novel interdisciplinary applications of advanced plasmonic devices in cell microscopy, optical data storage and sensing.

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Figure 1: Experimental ‘set-up’.
Figure 2: Amplitude projection for uniform phase profile.
Figure 3: Dynamic focusing of SPPs.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank E. van Putten and J. Cesario for stimulating and helpful discussions, and H. Zeijlermaker for sample fabrication. This work is part of the research programme of the ‘Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie’, which is financially supported by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. FOM-Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics AMOLF, Science Park 104, Amsterdam, 1098 XG, The Netherlands

    Bergin Gjonaj, Jochen Aulbach, Patrick M. Johnson, L. Kuipers & Ad Lagendijk

  2. Complex Photonic Systems, Faculty of Science and Technology, and MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

    Allard P. Mosk

Authors
  1. Bergin Gjonaj
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  2. Jochen Aulbach
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  3. Patrick M. Johnson
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  4. Allard P. Mosk
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  5. L. Kuipers
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  6. Ad Lagendijk
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Contributions

B.G. was the primary researcher on this project, developing and building the set-up, carrying out all experiments and analysis, and writing the paper. All authors made essential contributions to the project and take full responsibility for the results presented.

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Correspondence to Bergin Gjonaj.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Gjonaj, B., Aulbach, J., Johnson, P. et al. Active spatial control of plasmonic fields. Nature Photon 5, 360–363 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2011.57

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