Definition of nanoplasmonics

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Photonics Dictionary

nanoplasmonics: Nanoplasmonics is a branch of nanophotonics that focuses on the study and manipulation of optical phenomena at the nanoscale using plasmonic materials and structures. Plasmonics deals with the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and free electrons in metals or other conductive materials, leading to the formation of surface plasmons—collective oscillations of electrons at the metal-dielectric interface.

Nanoplasmonics explores how these surface plasmons can be harnessed and controlled to manipulate light at extremely small length scales, typically on the order of nanometers. By exploiting the unique properties of surface plasmons, nanoplasmonic devices and structures enable a wide range of applications in optics, photonics, sensing, imaging, and information processing.

Concepts and phenomena in nanoplasmonics include:

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR): SPR occurs when the frequency of incident light matches the natural frequency of surface plasmons at the metal-dielectric interface. This resonance leads to enhanced electromagnetic fields near the surface, making SPR a powerful tool for sensing applications, such as biosensors for detecting biomolecular interactions.

Localized surface plasmons (LSP): LSPs are confined electromagnetic modes that arise from the interaction between light and metal nanoparticles or nanostructures. LSPs can concentrate electromagnetic fields into extremely small volumes, enabling applications such as enhanced light absorption, photothermal therapy, and single-molecule detection.

Plasmonic waveguides and nanocircuits: Plasmonic waveguides and nanocircuits use surface plasmons to guide and manipulate light at the nanoscale. These structures offer advantages such as subwavelength confinement, low loss, and compatibility with integrated nanophotonic devices for on-chip applications.

Plasmonic metamaterials: Plasmonic metamaterials are engineered materials with subwavelength-scale structures designed to manipulate light in unconventional ways. They exhibit unique optical properties, such as negative refractive index, hyperbolic dispersion, and extraordinary optical transmission, enabling applications such as superlenses, cloaking devices, and ultrathin optical components.