In the last 30 days

• Open/close Time-dependent transport through scattering media: from radiative transfer to diffusion

  Rachid Elaloufi et al  2002 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 4 S103 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (254 KB)

  We study the propagation of light pulses through scattering media using the time-dependent radiative transfer equation. A standard discrete-ordinate method is used to solve this equation in the space-frequency domain. We present calculations of diffuse transmission through scattering slabs, in the presence of absorption and anisotropic scattering. We show that the diffusive regime is attained at long times only for thick slabs. Comparisons with diffusion theory show that the proper choice of the diffusion constant is an important issue for time-dependent transport.

• Open/close Holographic recording of visible-light spectra in thin AgCl-Ag waveguide films

  L A Ageev et al  1999 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 1 173 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (375 KB)

  Holographic recording of visible-light spectra is carried out in vacuum-deposited thin AgCl-Ag films, serving as waveguide media. In the film, periodic structures, consisting of periodically redistributed colloidal silver particles, are recorded as a result of the interference between a linearly polarized incident beam and the TE-modes in the waveguide. The reconstructed spectra appear normal to the film surface, reproducing the original colour and polarization characteristics of the recorded light. When the holographic spectra are recorded through a polarizer in conjunction with a birefringent crystalline plate, the characteristic coloured band patterns appear on reconstruction which are similar to the patterns of polarized wave interference in crystalline plates.

• Open/close Surface plasmon–polariton length scales: a route to sub-wavelength optics

  William L Barnes  2006 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 8 S87 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (230 KB)

  We look at four length scales associated with the surface plasmon–polariton (SPP) modes in the visible and near-infrared. We examine some of the consequences of these length scales for exploiting surface plasmon–polariton modes as a means to provide sub-wavelength optics. The four length scales discussed are the SPP wavelength, the SPP propagation distance, and the penetration depths of the field associated with the SPP into the dielectric and metal media that bound the interface that supports the SPP. Length scales spanning seven orders of magnitude, from nanometres to centimetres, are of relevance to SPPs. This paper concludes by identifying some of the challenges that lie ahead.

• Open/close Plasmonic components fabrication via nanoimprint

  Alexandra Boltasseva  2009 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 11 114001 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (1.16 MB)

  A review report on nanoimprinted plasmonic components is given. The fabrication of different metal–dielectric geometries and nanostructured surfaces that support either propagating or localized surface plasmon modes is discussed. The main characteristics and advantages of the nanoimprint technology for the fabrication of various plasmonic structures are outlined. The discussion of plasmonic waveguiding structures focuses on planar waveguides based on metal strips embedded into a dielectric and on profiled metal surfaces. Nanoimprint-based fabrication of two-dimensional nanostructured plasmonic surfaces for enhanced transmission studies and sensor applications is also discussed. Throughout the report, the main fabrication schemes are described, as well as the challenges facing future manufacturing of plasmonic components for device applications.

• Open/close Heterostructure photonic crystal channel drop filters using mirror cavities

  M Djavid et al  2008 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 10 055203 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (776 KB)

  In this paper, a heterostructure channel drop filter in two-dimensional photonic crystals based on mirror cavities is investigated. First a channel drop filter using mirror cavities is presented. Then in order to achieve a three output port filter, we present a heterostructure built on a hybrid two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal that includes two different refractive indices. Our numeric simulation with the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique shows that the heterostructure has acceptable output efficiency over 80%. Finally, by applying a theoretical approach (coupled mode theory), the physical mechanism behind these structures is explained.

• Open/close Near-field photonics: surface plasmon polaritons and localized surface plasmons

  Anatoly V Zayats and Igor I Smolyaninov  2003 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 5 S16 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (1.75 MB)

  Surface plasmon polaritons and localized surface plasmons are discussed in the context of photonic applications. Near-field imaging of scattering, reflection, interference and localization of surface polaritons is reviewed, and approaches for the implementation of elements of surface polariton optics are presented. Surface plasmon polaritonic crystals and their role in the determination of optical properties of periodically nanostructured metal films are described. Non-linear effects related to surface polaritons and localized surface plasmons allowing control of optical properties of nanostructured metal films with light are discussed. Surface plasmon optics opens up numerous possibilities for application of these intrinsically two-dimensional excitations in passive and active devices of all-optical integrated circuits.

• Open/close Chiral metamaterials: simulations and experiments

  Bingnan Wang et al  2009 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 11 114003 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (1.72 MB)

  Electromagnetic metamaterials are composed of periodically arranged artificial structures. They show peculiar properties, such as negative refraction and super-lensing, which are not seen in natural materials. The conventional metamaterials require both negative and negative μ to achieve negative refraction. Chiral metamaterial is a new class of metamaterials offering a simpler route to negative refraction. In this paper, we briefly review the history of metamaterials and the developments on chiral metamaterials. We study the wave propagation properties in chiral metamaterials and show that negative refraction can be realized in chiral metamaterials with a strong chirality, with neither nor μ negative required. We have developed a retrieval procedure, adopting a uniaxial bi-isotropic model to calculate the effective parameters such as n _± , κ, and μ of the chiral metamaterials. Our work on the design, numerical calculations and experimental measurements of chiral metamaterials is introduced. Strong chiral behaviors such as optical activity and circular dichroism are observed and negative refraction is obtained for circularly polarized waves in these chiral metamaterials. We show that 3D isotropic chiral metamaterials can eventually be realized.

• Open/close Surface plasmons in metallic structures

  J M Pitarke et al  2005 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 7 S73 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (378 KB)

  Since the concept of a surface collective excitation was first introduced by Ritchie, surface plasmons have played a significant role in a variety of areas of fundamental and applied research, from surface dynamics to surface-plasmon microscopy, surface-plasmon resonance technology, and a wide range of photonic applications. Here we review the basic concepts underlying the existence of surface plasmons in metallic structures, and introduce a new low-energy surface collective excitation that has been recently predicted to exist.

• Open/close The role of localized surface plasmon modes in the enhanced transmission of periodic subwavelength apertures

  A Degiron and T W Ebbesen  2005 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 7 S90 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (711 KB)

  After reviewing the present understanding of the transmission properties of single apertures and the enhanced transmission through hole arrays, experimental results are presented which show how localized surface plasmon (LSP) modes of individual apertures contribute to the transmission peaks associated with the periodic arrays. In particular, it is shown that the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) of the periodic structure dominate the spectral signature of the arrays. The results also indicate that the LSP of each hole can interact and that this can be controlled by appropriate arrangement of the apertures in the array.

• Open/close Focusing of high order cylindrical vector beams

  M Rashid et al  2009 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 11 065204 Tag this article

  Article References Full text PDF (737 KB)

  We present the results of calculations of focusing high order cylindrical vector beams in the limit of high numerical aperture. We derive a form of the vectorial diffraction integrals for arbitrary radial and azimuthal mode indices and evaluate these numerically for a number of different modes. We identify combinations of mode indices and lens filling factors that produce focal volume shapes that may be of interest for a number of applications such as optical trapping, two-photon lithography or optical super-resolution. Finally we evaluate the effect of spherical aberration on the focusing.