Single-Photon Tunneling via Localized Surface Plasmons

Smolyaninov, Igor I.; Zayats, Anatoly V.; Güngör, A.; Davis, Christophér C.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.88.187402

Cited by 117 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Measurements of photon tunneling through individual nanometer scale pinholes has provided strong indication of "photon blockade" effect similar to Coulomb blockade phenomena observed in single-electron tunneling experiments [1]. We have also reported observation of photon tunneling being gated by light at a different wavelength in similar but somewhat larger pinholes [2].…”

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“…In our recent work [1,2] some of the unusual properties of naturally occurring extremely small pinholes in thick gold films covered with highly optically nonlinear polydiacetylene layers have been studied. Measurements of photon tunneling through individual nanometer scale pinholes has provided strong indication of "photon blockade" effect similar to Coulomb blockade phenomena observed in single-electron tunneling experiments [1].…”

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confidence: 99%

“…1. Similar to the sample preparation described in [1], a drop of poly-3-butoxy-carbonylmethyl-urethane (3BCMU) polydiacetylene solution in chloroform was deposited onto the gold film surface. After solvent evaporation films of polydiacetylene were left on both the top and the bottom surfaces of the perforated gold film.…”

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Optical control of photon tunneling through an array of nanometer-scale cylindrical channels

et al. 2002

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We report first observation of photon tunneling gated by light at a different wavelength in an artificially created array of nanometer scale cylindrical channels in a thick gold film. Polarization properties of gated light provide strong proof of the enhanced nonlinear optical mixing in nanometric channels involved in the process. This suggests the possibility of building a new class of "gated" photon tunneling devices for massive parallel all-optical signal and image processing. In our recent work [1,2] some of the unusual properties of naturally occurring extremely small pinholes in thick gold films covered with highly optically nonlinear polydiacetylene layers have been studied. Measurements of photon tunneling through individual nanometer scale pinholes has provided strong indication of "photon blockade" effect similar to Coulomb blockade phenomena observed in single-electron tunneling experiments [1]. We have also reported observation of photon tunneling being gated by light at a different wavelength in similar but somewhat larger pinholes [2]. These observations suggest possibility of building a new class of "gated" photon tunneling devices for all-optical signal and image processing in classical and quantum communications and computing. A big step forward would be to artificially fabricate such devices in controllable and reproducible manner. Moreover, massive parallel all-optical signal processing can be achieved if large arrays of such pinholes with enhanced nonlinear properties can be created. However, transition from individual pinholes to a periodic array of them leads to new physics involved in the nonlinear optical processes.Linear optical properties of metallic films perforated with an array of periodic subwavelength holes and exhibiting the so-called extraordinary enhanced optical transmission have been intensively studied recently (see [3][4][5] and Refs. therein). Although the exact nature of the enhanced transmission in two-dimensional case (which is significantly different from a better understood one-dimensional case of subwavelength slits) is still not fully established, the role of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in this process is commonly accepted. SPP Bloch waves can be excited by incident light on the interfaces of a periodically nanostructured film, which may be treated as a surface polaritonic crystal [5][6][7]. Resonant light tunneling via states of surface polariton Bloch waves is one of the mechanisms involved in the enhanced transmission.A fundamental difference between conventional photonic crystals and surface polaritonic crystals is a different electromagnetic field distribution close to the surface. Surface polariton is an intrinsically two-dimensional excitation whose electromagnetic field is concentrated at a metal interface. Thus, in contrast to photonic crystals, strong electromagnetic field enhancement takes place at a SPP crystal interface related to the surface polariton field localization [8]. Such enhancement effects are absent in photonic crystals. Field enhancem...

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Optical control of photon tunneling through an array of nanometer-scale cylindrical channels

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“…Very recently 1 we have reported strong experimental and theoretical evidence of "photon blockade" effect in light tunneling through individual subwavelength pinholes in a gold film covered with a layer of polydiacetylene, which may occur even at a level of single photon tunneling. This effect is somewhat similar to Coulomb blockade phenomenon observed in single-electron tunneling experiments.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…1 . The transmission measured with 488 nm illumination has been consistently lower (in agreement with the photon blockade hypothesis), although large statistical noise does not allow to make such a conclusion with absolute certainty.…”

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confidence: 99%