Losses in plasmonics: from mitigating energy dissipation to embracing loss-enabled functionalities

• DOI: 10.1364/aop.9.000775
• Publication Date: 2017-10-20T13:08:20Z
• Authors: Svetlana V. Boris...; Thomas Alan Cooper; Lingping Zeng; George Ni; Jonathan K. Tong; Yoichiro Tsurimaki; Yi Huang; Laureen Meroueh; Gerald Mahan; Gang Chen
• Keywords: Condensed Matter - Materials Science; Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics; Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci); FOS: Physical sciences; Physics - Applied Physics; Applied Physics (physics.app-ph); 02 engineering and technology; 7. Clean energy; Physics - Plasma Physics; Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph); Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall); 0210 nano-technology; Physics - Optics; Optics (physics.optics)

Unlike conventional optics, plasmonics enables unrivaled concentration of optical energy well beyond the diffraction limit light. However, a significant part this is dissipated as heat. Plasmonic losses present major hurdle in development plasmonic devices and circuits that can compete with other mature technologies. Until recently, they have largely kept use to few niche areas where loss not key factor, such surface-enhanced Raman scattering biochemical sensing. Here, we discuss origin various approaches either minimize or mitigate them based on understanding fundamental processes underlying surface plasmon modes excitation decay. Along ongoing effort find synthesize better materials, designs modify powerflow through nanostructures help reducing both radiative damping dissipative plasmons. Another strategy relies hybrid photonic–plasmonic by coupling resonant elements. Hybrid integration only helps reduce plasmons, but also makes possible passive cooling nanodevices. Finally, review emerging applications thermoplasmonics leverage Ohmic achieve new enhanced functionalities. The most successful commercialized example loss-enabled novel application heat-assisted magnetic recording. Other promising technological directions include thermal emission manipulation, cancer therapy, nanofabrication, nanomanipulation, plasmon-enabled material spectroscopy thermo-catalysis, solar water treatment, thermophotovoltaics.