Surface-Plasmon-Polariton Optics Using Advanced Nanotechnology

The aim of this talent project is to pursue activities within the rapidly growing field of plasmonic research using the new national processing facilities at DANCIP, DTU. The research objective is to explore surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and their potential in different applications ranging from advanced photonics to chemical- and bio-sensors. The focus will be to exploit physical phenomena related to SPPs to develop new types of surface plasmon nano-devices for controlling optical processes at the subwavelength scale. The project will make use of the research expertise gained during a newly finished Ph.D. project, where different optical components utilizing SPPs propagation were demonstrated for the first time. The idea is to expand the research horizon and focus on new SPP-components and physical phenomena ranging from light localization in periodic nano-structures to interaction of SPPs with semiconductor quantum wells and dots.



The project will focus on development, fabrication and optical characterization of SPP components. The main activities will be investigations of resonant excitation of surface plasmons and their field enhancement in periodic nano-structured metal surfaces. Resonant field enhancements and cavity-effects will be studied for different periodic patterns. SPP's field enhancement will also be investigated on semiconductor substrates by combining, and coupling, cavities in periodic metal arrays with semiconductor quantum well and dot structures.