Scientists from Duke University and Imperial College, London have defined the limits of metal's ability in light-enhancing devices by evaluating the unique properties of light on a single atom level.
film-nanoparticle plasmonic system
This discipline is called ‘plasmonics’ as plasmons form an integral part of the research. These plasmons are electrons that experience excitation by light in a phenomenon where enhancement of electromagnetic field is created. Metals at the nanoscale create more enhancement than other materials.
The quantification of plasmonic interactions at small sizes still poses challenge to the researchers who have earlier succeeded in calculating the practical limitations of light enhancement. In addition to serving as a pathway for controlling light scattering in an accurate way, this approach will also foster the design and development of novel devices like integrated photonic communications components and medical sensors.
Plasmonic devices generally engage electrons that interact between two metal particles that lie a few distance apart. Since four decades, researchers have been investigating the outcome of placing the particles nearer at sub-nanometer distances.
The experiments were performed in the laboratory of David R. Smith, William Bevan Professor of electrical and computer engineering at Duke and the results will be published on the cover of Science dated August 31, 2012.
Ciracì and his team began experimenting with ultra-thin monolayer of organic molecules-coated thin gold film embedded with accurately controllable carbon chains. Nanometric gold spheres were dispersed atop the monolayer. With an accuracy of a single atom, the distance between the film and the spheres can be modified. The researchers were therefore successful in achieving a photonic signature with atom-level resolution.
Source: http://www.duke.edu/
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