Open AccessPlasmon assisted thermal modulation in nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Aude L. Lereu,
R. H. Farahi,
Laurene Tetard,
Stefan Enoch,
Thomas Thundat,
Ali Passian
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.21.012145
Subject(s) - materials science , plasmon , surface plasmon , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , modulation (music) , nanolithography , localized surface plasmon , dielectric , thermal , surface plasmon polariton , fabrication , medicine , philosophy , alternative medicine , physics , pathology , meteorology , aesthetics
Single-particle interactions hold the promise of nanometer-scale devices in areas such as data communications and storage, nanolithography, waveguides, renewable energy and therapeutics. We propose that the collective electronic properties possessed by noble metal nanoparticles may be exploited for device actuation via the unapparent mechanism of plasmon-assisted heat generation and flux. The temperature dependence of the dielectric function and the thermal transport properties of the particles play the central role in the feasibility of the thermally-actuated system, however the behavior of these thermoplasmonic processes is unclear. We experimentally and computationally analyzed modulation via thermoplasmonic processes on a test system of gold (Au) nano-islands. Modulation and energy transport in discontinuous domains exhibited quantitatively different characteristics compared to thin films. The results have implications for all surface plasmon based nano-devices where inevitable small-scale thermal processes are present.