Coupled surface plasmon–phonon polariton nanocavity arrays for enhanced mid-infrared absorption
- Department of Physics and Astronomy , Texas Tech University , Lubbock , TX 79409 , USA, Department of Physics and Astronomy , The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley , Brownsville , TX 78520 , USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , University of Houston , Houston , TX 77204 , USA, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos , NM 87545 , USA, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory , Batavia , IL 60510 , USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy , Texas Tech University , Lubbock , TX 79409 , USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , University of Houston , Houston , TX 77204 , USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering , Texas Tech University , Lubbock , TX 79409 , USA, School of Electrical Engineering , Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology , Daejeon 34141 , South Korea
Abstract
Resonant optical cavities are essential components in mid-infrared applications. However, typical film-type cavities require multilayer stacks with a micron-thick spacer due to mid-infrared wavelengths, and their performance is limited by narrow frequency tunability and angular sensitivity. We propose and experimentally demonstrate the subwavelength-scale (≈ λ 0 /150) resonant nanocavity arrays that enhance the absorption spectrum of the device in the mid-infrared (10–12 microns) via excitation of coupled surface plasmon–phonon polaritons. The proposed metal–insulator–polar dielectric (gold–silicon–silicon carbide) structure supports a guided mode of the coupled surface polaritons in the lateral direction while vertically confining the mid-infrared wave within the 80 nm thick dielectric spacer. In particular, the subwavelength-scale (≈ λ 0 /10) gratings are imposed to form Fabry–Pérot cavity arrays displaying angle-insensitive and frequency-tunable absorption of up to 80% of the optical power in the mid-infrared. Our work should benefit diverse mid-infrared applications and novel designs of polariton-based photonic devices.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 2478574
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1893729
- Journal Information:
- Nanophotonics (Online), Journal Name: Nanophotonics (Online) Journal Issue: 20 Vol. 11; ISSN 2192-8614
- Publisher:
- Walter de Gruyter GmbHCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- Germany
- Language:
- English
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