Open AccessInsulator to metal transition induced by surface plasmon polaritons in VO2/Au thin films
Author(s) -
Scott Madaras,
Jason A. Creeden,
S. Kittiwatanakul,
Jiwei Lu,
Iriovikova,
R. A. Lukaszew
Publication year - 2018
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.26.025657
Subject(s) - materials science , surface plasmon polariton , surface plasmon , surface plasmon resonance , polariton , optics , thin film , excited state , wavelength , absorption (acoustics) , plasmon , optoelectronics , atomic physics , nanotechnology , nanoparticle , physics , composite material
We report on a new mechanism capable of inducing the insulator-metal transition (IMT) in VO 2 via surface plasmon polaritons (SPP). Our theoretical model predicts that for a bilayer Au-VO 2 sample an enhanced electromagnetic energy density at the Au-VO 2 interface will occur at 1064nm laser wavelength when SPPs are excited in the Au layer. This effect can assist the IMT in the VO 2 layer and at the same time, the SPP absorption can be used to detect it. Changes in the optical properties of the VO 2 thin layer in such structure can be observed in the reflected light in Kretschmann configuration, via a shift in the nadir location due to light absorption at resonance. This optical mechanism occurs at 2mW threshold transition energies and fully saturates at 5mW.