Interactions between Plasmonic Nanoantennas and Vortex Beams.

The orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light offers a new degree of freedom for light-matter interactions, yet how to control such interactions with this physical dimension remains open. Here, by developing a numerical method enabling optical OAM simulations, we provide insights into complex plasmon behaviors with the physical dimension of OAM, and we prove in theory that plasmonic nanostructures can function as efficient antennas to intercept and directionally reradiate the power of OAM beams. The interplay between optical OAM and spin angular momentum (SAM) generates novel particle polarizations and radiations, which were inaccessible before. For arrayed nanoparticles, coherent surface plasmons with specific phase retardations determined by OAM of the beams enable directional power radiations, making a phased array antenna. These findings expand our knowledge of nanoplasmonics in the OAM area and are promising for quantum information processing and dynamic sensing of ultraweak biosignals.

Switchable plasmonic routers controlled by external magnetic fields by using magneto-plasmonic waveguides.

We analytically and numerically investigate magneto-plasmons in metal films surrounded by a ferromagnetic dielectric. In such waveguide using a metal film with a thickness exceeding the Skin depth, an external magnetic field in the transverse direction can induce a significant spatial asymmetry of mode distribution. Superposition of the odd and the even asymmetric modes over a distance leads to a concentration of the energy on one interface which is switched to the other interface by the magnetic field reversal. The requested magnitude of magnetization is exponentially reduced with the increase of the metal film thickness. Based on this phenomenon, we propose a waveguide-integrated magnetically controlled switchable plasmonic routers with 99-%-high contrast within the optical bandwidth of tens of THz. This configuration can also operate as a magneto-plasmonic modulator.

Actively phase-controlled coupling between plasmonic waveguides via in-between gain-assisted nanoresonator: nanoscale optical logic gates.

The development of nanoscale optical logic gates has attracted immense attention due to increasing demand for ultrahigh-speed and energy-efficient optical computing and data processing, however, suffers from the difficulty in precise control of phase difference of the two optical signals. We propose a novel conception of nanoscale optical logic gates based on actively phase-controlled coupling between two plasmonic waveguides via an in-between gain-assisted nanoresonator. Precise control of phase difference between the two plasmonic signals can be performed by manipulating pumping rate at an appropriate frequency detuning, enabling a high contrast between the output logic states "1" and "0." Without modification of the structural parameters, different logic functions can be provided. This active nanoscale optical logic device is expected to be quite energy-efficient with ideally low energy consumption on the order of 0.1 fJ/bit. Analytical calculations and numerical experiments demonstrate the validity of the proposed concept.

Nonlinearity of surface-plasmon polaritons in sub-wavelength metal nanowires.

We investigate the nonlinear propagation of surface plasmon polaritons guided on gold nanowires surrounded by silica glass. Based on the Lorentz reciprocity theorem, we derive a formula for the complex nonlinear susceptibility, and study its dependence on waveguide parameters and wavelength for the fundamental mode. Depending on these parameters both positive and negative signs of the real and imaginary parts of the nonlinear coefficient are predicted. This implies that nanowires exhibit the property of saturable absorption or optical limiting as well as positive and negative nonlinear phase shifts. The physical origin of this phenomenon is discussed.