Field-resolved detection of the temporal response of a single plasmonic antenna in the mid-infrared

Fischer, M. P., Maccaferri, N., Gallacher, K. , Frigerio, J., Pellegrini, G., Paul, D. J. , Isella, G., Leitenstorfer, A., Biagioni, P. and Brida, D. (2021) Field-resolved detection of the temporal response of a single plasmonic antenna in the mid-infrared. Optica, 8(6), pp. 898-903. (doi: 10.1364/OPTICA.420683)

Abstract

Unveiling the spatial and temporal dynamics of a light pulse interacting with nanosized objects is of extreme importance to widen our understanding of how photons interact with matter at the nanoscale and trigger physical and photochemical phenomena. An ideal platform to study light–matter interactions with an unprecedented spatial resolution is represented by plasmonics, which enables an extreme confinement of optical energy into sub-wavelength volumes. The ability to resolve and control the dynamics of this energy confinement on the time scale of a single optical cycle is at the ultimate frontier towards a full control of nanoscale phenomena. Here, we resolve in the time domain the linear behavior of a single germanium plasmonic antenna in the mid-infrared by measuring the complex optical field response in amplitude and phase with sub-optical-cycle precision, with the promise to extend the observation of light–matter interactions in the time domain to single quantum objects. Accessing this fundamental information opens a plethora of opportunities in a variety of research areas based on plasmon-mediated photonic processes and their coherent control, such as plasmon-enhanced chemical reactions and energy harvesting.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Paul, Professor Douglas and Gallacher, Dr Kevin
• Authors: Fischer, M. P., Maccaferri, N., Gallacher, K., Frigerio, J., Pellegrini, G., Paul, D. J., Isella, G., Leitenstorfer, A., Biagioni, P., and Brida, D.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Optica
• Publisher: Optical Society of America
• ISSN: 2334-2536
• ISSN (Online): 2334-2536
• Published Online: 14 June 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Optical Society of America
• First Published: First published in Optica 8(6): 898-903
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
169257		GEMINI	Douglas Paul	European Commission (EC)	613055	ENG - Electronics & Nanoscale Engineering