Plasmonic active spectral filter in VIS-NIR region using metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure on glass plate

Abstract

The interaction between surface plasmons at two interfaces inside a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure is one of the most interesting physical phenomena in nanophotonics. We are developing a plasmonic active spectral filter based on the MIM structure in order to fabricate a white light-emitting diode (LED) for visible-light communication. The development of an optical active filter in the visible region assisted by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the MIM structure of vacuum-deposited thin films on a glass substrate has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. The interface between the first thin silver layer (M1, around 50 nm thick) and the bulk glass slide is suitable for excitation of SPR at a particular wavelength and incident angle of optical illumination. Also, the spatial extension of the SPR wave may cause an effective propagating mode that is confined to the insulator layer (I, around 150 nm thick) by both M1 and the second thick silver layer (M2, around 200 nm thick). Such an energy conversion from the illuminating light to the propagating SPR modes corresponds to an evident absorption dip in the spectral reflectance curve of the MIM structure, and the shape of the dip may vary widely in response to the material and configuration of the MIM. The spectral and angular reflectance of the prototypical MIM structure have been measured with a spectrophotometer for P-and Spolarized light because the plasmonic effect within the MIM structure depends strongly on the polarization of light. Such a characteristic reflection feature has also been studied by using both the usual transfer matrix method and 2D electromagnetic simulations based on the finite element method. In this talk, several remarkable and preliminary MIM prototypes are introduced and discussed.

3D-FEM analysis of SPP excitation through nanoholes in asymmetric metal-insulator-metal structure at tip of circular truncated conical fiber

“…The MIM structure makes excitation of SPPs possible, which depends strongly on wavelength, incident angle, and polarization of excitation light. An accompanying spectral reflectance of notch filtering property has possibility in a novel active plasmonic filter for white-light LED illumination to achieve high-speed visible light communications [3]. Figure 1 shows a typical spectral reflectance curve of Ag(thin)/MgF2/Ag(thick) structure on glass plate.…”

Extracting and focusing of surface plasmon polaritons inside finite asymmetric metal/insulator/metal structure at apex of optical fiber by subwavelength holes

“…In the previous works for plasmonic MIM filter [3], fabrication of the MIM structure on microscopic glass slide is established with considerable accuracy. High vacuum deposition system (D15-1229, Daiichi Shinkuu) with three independent sets of heater circuits (3 × (6 V, 100 A)) stacked metallic and insulating thin films in layers on the surface of glass slide (B270, SCHOTT) to make the MIM samples for basic experiment.…”

“…The resultant SPPs inside the MIM structure might be enhanced, and an intense EM fields could be occurred at two interfaces of metallic and insulator layers [1][2][3][4]. To extract the enhanced SPPs efficiently from the interfaces to the metallic surface of the fiber tip, an optimal 3D nanostructure on the metallic film must be found.…”