Open AccessPlasphonics : local hybridization of plasmons and phonons
Author(s) -
Renaud Marty,
Adnen Mlayah,
Arnaud Arbouet,
Christian Girard,
S. Tripathy
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.21.004551
Subject(s) - plasmon , surface plasmon , phonon , physics , surface phonon , electric field , delocalized electron , optics , semiconductor , condensed matter physics , surface plasmon polariton , optoelectronics , materials science , quantum mechanics
We show that the interaction between localized surface plasmons sustained by a metallic nano-antenna and delocalized phonons lying at the surface of an heteropolar semiconductor can generate a new class of hybrid electromagnetic modes. These plasphonic modes are investigated using an analytical model completed by accurate Green dyadic numerical simulations. When surface plasmon and surface phonon frequencies match, the optical resonances exhibit a large Rabi splitting typical of strongly interacting two-level systems. Based on numerical simulations of the electric near-field maps, we investigate the nature of the plaphonic excitations. In particular, we point out a strong local field enhancement boosted by the phononic surface. This effect is interpreted in terms of light harvesting by the plasmonic antenna from the phononic surface. We thus introduce the concept of active phononic surfaces that may be exploited for far-infared optoelectronic devices and sensors.