Berlin 2018 – scientific programme
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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 77: Poster: Plasmonics and Nanooptics
O 77.26: Poster
Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 18:15–20:30, Poster A
Towards Superconducting Niobium Plasmonics for Light Detection — •Ahmed Farag, Shahin Bagheri, and Harald Giessen — 4th Physics Institute and Research Center SCOPE, University of Stuttgart, D-70550 Stuttgart, Germany
Nowadays with the fast developments in quantum computing and single photon emitters,avalanche photodiodes as photon detectors are replaced by the superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. These detectors have a large active area, enabling high absorption efficiency but unfortunately, they slow down the detector response and increase the recovery time. To overcome this problem, plasmonic concepts can be combined with superconducting photon detectors to decrease the active area of the detector while maintaining the high absorption efficiency. Niobium is one of the most promising materials for such purpose since it has a reasonable transition temperature, low kinetic inductance, as well as promising plasmonic properties. Here, we study the optical properties of niobium and niobium nitride upon different sputtering conditions for plasmonics application. Two different nanofabrication techniques are used, namely, electron beam lithography for preparation of precise and complex designs and laser interference lithography for large-area nanostructures. Our results show tunability of the plasmon resonance and consequently the corresponding absorptions in the near infrared range. The absorption can be enhanced further to near unity using a perfect absorber design. The investigations into the plasmonic properties of superconducting niobium opens a gate for future single photon applications.