Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme
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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 12: Nanostructures at Surfaces II (Wires, Tubes)
O 12.9: Talk
Monday, March 26, 2007, 16:15–16:30, H36
Tunable Quantum Wires: New Horizons in Plasmonics — •Dominic Zerulla1, Stephanie Rehwald2, Michael Berndt1,2, Frank Katzenberg3, Stephan Schwieger4, Erich Runge4, and Klaus Schierbaum2 — 1UCD Dublin, Physics, Dublin 4, Ireland — 2Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf — 3Universität Dortmund, FB Bio-und Chemieingenieurwesen, D-44227 Dortmund, — 4Technische Universität Ilmenau, Theor. Physik I, D-98684 Ilmenau
Here we report on the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP's) on a periodical arrangement of quantum wires with tunable periodicity. The ability to vary its two-dimensional lattice constant results in an additional degree of freedom, permitting excitation of SPP's for any combination of wavelength and angle of incidence within the tuning range of the system. Moreover it allows crucial questions on a fundamental level to be answered by shedding light on the characteristic localization properties of SPP's. Planar waveguides and photonic crystal structures are being intensively investigated as primary solutions for integrated photonic devices. However, there is an alternative approach to the manufacturing of highly integrated optical devices with structural elements smaller than the wavelength, which nevertheless enables strong guidance and manipulation of light - the use of metallodielectric nanostructures in conjunction with SPP's. This approach is now branded as "the next big step" in nanotechnology. Our novel design opens new vistas in the development of novel methodologies in spectroscopy including plasmonic sensors and chips.