1. Nanoscale Optics and Photonics
Xiaodong Yang, October 25, 2011
Photonic crystals
Surface plasmons
Metamaterials
The iridescence of Morpho butterfly
Reference pictures resources: internet

2. The scale of things

3. The electromagnetic spectrum

4. Electronics and photonics roadmaps
Vacuum tube
Transistor
Electronic
integrated circuits
Early electronics
Nanofabrication and
nanomanufacturing
techniques
Fast, low-cost, scalable and functional integrated devices
The development of nanofabrication and nanomanufacturing techniques has not only permitted the success of electronic integrated circuits, but also has enabled the nanophotonic integrated circuits, for realizing fast, low-cost, scalable and functional integrated devices.
Geometrical optics
Optical MEMS
Nanophotonic
integrated circuits

5. Photonic crystals in nature
Morpho butterfly
Peacock feather
Sea Mouse hair
λ/2
Natural opals

6. Photonic crystals and defects
Photonic crystal: periodically structured electromagnetic media, generally possessing photonic band gaps. Lattice constants are comparable to the wavelength of light in the material.
Point defect: cavity
λ/2
Line defect: waveguide

7. Photonic crystals with different dimensions

8. Surface Plasmons
Gothic stained glass rose window of Notre-Dame de Paris

9. Water surface wave

10. Surface Plasmons at metal-dielectric interface
λSP<<λ0 εd εm
|Ez|
Evanescent field
Surface plasmons are EM waves propagating along metal-dielectric interface with collective electron oscillations. The interaction between light in dielectric and electron oscillations near the surface of metal generates surface plasmons. And SPs have strong light localization near the interface.
Here is the dispersion relation. SP has wl much smaller than free space wl, due to the large k wave vector (lambda = 2 pi / k).
Strong light localization near the
metal-dielectric interface
Surface Plasmons with large k
SP wave interference
10 µm

11. Metamaterials: beyond natural materials
“atoms”
Atomic lattice constant a ~ 5.65 Å
Optical wavelength λ ~1μm
Homogeneous medium
Crystal structure of sodium chloride (NaCl) λ a l
Metamaterials
Artificially fabricated structures
Unit cell a << wavelength λ
Effective-media theory can be applied
Material properties not existing in natural materials
“meta-atoms”

12. Negative Index of Refraction

13. Negative Index of Refraction
Snell’s Law

14. Photonic integrated circuits
Photonic crystals
Surface plasmons
Metamaterials

15. Applications of nanoscale optics and photonics
Optical communications
Photonic crystal fibers
Photodetectors
Optical switches
Consumer electronics
Semiconductor lasers
CCD imaging
LCD and LED displays
Industrial applications
Photolithography
Laser manufacturing
High-power fiber lasers
Renewable energy
Solar energy harvesting
Thin-film photovoltaics
LED lighting
Nanoscale Optics and Photonics
Biomedical
Biosensors
Fluorescence imaging
Cancer therapy
Optical nanostructures play important roles in many applications that drive our modern world. for example, optical communications including fiber, pd, optical switches; consumer electronics, industrial applications, biomedical, and renewable energy.