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Direct Observation of Nanoscale Light Confinement without Metal
Author(s) -
Liu Yunxin,
Vanacken Johan,
Chen Xianmei,
Han Junbo,
Zhong Zhiqiang,
Xia Zhengcai,
Chen Borong,
Wu Huan,
Jin Zhao,
Ge JunYi,
Huang Junwei,
Meng Lei,
Duan Xiangfeng,
Huang Yu,
Peng Qing,
Moshchalkov Victor V.,
Li Yadong
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201806341
Subject(s) - materials science , cladding (metalworking) , nanophotonics , dielectric , diffraction , optoelectronics , plasmon , nanoscopic scale , metamaterial , optics , superlattice , wavelength , nanotechnology , composite material , physics
Abstract Manipulation of light below the diffraction limit forms the basis of nanophotonics. Metals can confine light at the subwavelength scale but suffer from high loss of energy. Recent reports have theoretically demonstrated the possibility of light confinement below the diffraction limit using transparent dielectric metamaterials. Here, nanoscale light confinement (<λ/20) in transparent dielectric materials is shown experimentally through a luminescent nanosystem with rationally designed dielectric claddings. Theoretically, green light with a wavelength of 540 nm has a transmission of 98.8% when passing through an ultrathin NaYF 4 /NaGdF 4 superlattice cladding (thickness: 6.9 nm). Unexpectedly, the complete confinement of green emission (540 nm) by such an ultrathin dielectric cladding is directly observed. FDTD calculations are used to confirm that the ultrathin dielectric cladding has negligible influence on the transmission of propagating light, but extraordinary confinement of evanescent waves. This will provide new opportunities for nanophotonics by completely averting the use of metals.