Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Applied Physics Letters

Enhanced optical bistability with film-coupled plasmonic nanocubes

Christos Argyropoulos, Cristian Ciracì, David R. Smith

Published Feb 10, 2014• 53 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Colloidally synthesized nanocubes strongly coupled to conducting films hold great promise for enhancing different nonlinear optical processes. They exhibit a robust and sensitive scattering response that can be easily controlled by their geometrical and material parameters. Strong local field enhancement is generated at the gap regions between the nanocubes and the metallic film. We show that strong optical bistability and all-optical switching behavior can be obtained by loading these nanogaps with Kerr nonlinear materials. Relatively low input intensities are required to obtain these nonlinear effects. The proposed design can lead to efficient, low-power, and ultrafast all-optical memories and scattering nanoswitches.

DOI
10.1063/1.4866048

Related papers

Analytical model for optical bistability in nonlinear metal nano-antennae involving Kerr materials

Fei Zhou, Ye Liu, Zhi-Yuan Li +1 more

Optical bistability at nanoscale is a promising way to realize optical switching, a key component of integrated nanophotonic devices. In this work we present an analytical model for optical bistability in a metal nano-antenna involving Kerr nonlinear medium based on detailed analysis of the correlation between the incident and extinction light intensity under surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The model allows one to construct a clear picture on how the threshold, contrast, and other characteristics of optical bistability are influenced by the nonlinear coefficient, incident light intensity, local field enhancement factor, SPR peak width, and other physical parameters of the nano-antenna. It shows that the key towards low threshold power and high contrast optical bistability in the nanosystem is to reduce the SPR peak width. This can be achieved by reducing the absorption of metal materials or introducing gain media into nanosystems.

Optics Express•Jun 7, 2010•94 citations

Ultrafast all-optical switching in nanoplasmonic waveguide with Kerr nonlinear resonator

Hua Lü, Xueming Liu, Leiran Wang +2 more

A novel ultrafast all-optical switching based on metal-insulator-metal nanoplasmonic waveguide with a Kerr nonlinear resonator is proposed and investigated numerically. With the finite-difference time-domain simulations, it is demonstrated that an obvious optical bistability of the signal light appears by varying the control-light intensity, and an excellent switching effect is achieved. This bistability originates from the intensity-dependent change induced in the dielectric constant of Kerr nonlinear material filled in the nanodisk resonator. It is found that the proposed all-optical switching exhibits femtosecond-scale feedback time.

Optics Express•Jan 31, 2011•306 citations

Optical Bistability Associated with Surface Plasmon Polariton Excitation

Toshihiro Okamoto, Masanobu Haraguchi, Masuo Fukui

We have theoretically analysed the optical bistability due to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SP's) in samples, prism/metal film/nonlinear optic medium and prism/gap material/metal film/non-linear optic medium, where the non-linear optic medium has an intensity-dependent refractive index. We considered two cases, i.e. non-linearity along the propagation direction of SP's and along the normal to the interface. In the former case, the critical input power for the optical bistability was too high to allow experimental observation, while it was reasonably low for the latter case.

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan•May 15, 1992•2 citations

Optical bistability driven by the light-induced forces between metal nanoparticles

Sergey V. Perminov, Vladimir P. Drachev, Sergey G. Rautian

A motion-induced optical bistability is shown for a metal nanoparticle dimer that is plasmon coupled and bound with dispersion (colloidal) forces. The effect does not require any material nonlinearity.

Optics Letters•Dec 11, 2008•17 citations

Optical bistability and nonlinearity of coherently coupled exciton-plasmon systems

Jian-Bo Li, Nam-Chol Kim, Mu-Tian Cheng +3 more

We theoretically investigated optical third-order nonlinearity of a coherently coupled exciton-plasmon hybrid system under a strong control field with a weak probe field. The analytic formulas of exciton population and effective third-order optical susceptibility of the hybrid of a metal nanoparticle (MNP) and a semiconductor quantum dot (SQD) were deduced. The bistable exciton population and the induced bistable nonlinear absorption and refraction response were revealed. The bistability region can be tuned by adjusting the size of metal nanoparticle, interparticle distance and intensity of control field. Our results have perspective applications in optical information processing based on resonant coupling of exciton-plasmon.

Optics Express•Jan 12, 2012•121 citations

Plasmon-modulated bistable second-harmonic generation in a nonlinear microcavity coupled to a metallic nanoparticle

Shuang Zhou, Ying Li, Zhenzhen Song +2 more

Multiple nonlinear effects with second-harmonic (SH) generation and optical bistability (OB) are highly desired but rather rare due to insufficient intrinsic nonlinearity in most nonlinear media. Here, a nonlinear microcavity coupled to a metallic nanoparticle (MNP) is suggested to realize the bistable SH generation. When two counterpropagating driving fields are injected into the cavity, a traditional SH pathway is constructed via the two-photon process of fundamental-harmonic (FH) photons. In addition, we report the coexistence between the SH and OB effects under the condition that the strong excitation and the detuning management for the driving fields boost system nonlinear responses. In the presence of a control field toward the MNP, our calculation finds that the traditional and plasmon-induced SH pathways in the present system allow enhancing the SH conversion efficiency and reducing the OB thresholds simultaneously. With the control field intensity increasing, a linear growth rate for the SH efficiency maximum is achieved. Furthermore, the relative phase between the driving and control fields has profound effects on modulating the bistable SH efficiency, the bistable interval and the thresholds.

Optics Express•Nov 10, 2023•2 citations
Colloidally synthesized nanocubes strongly coupled to conducting films hold great promise for enhancing different nonlinear optical processes. They exhibit a robust and sensitive scattering response that can be easily controlled by their geometrical and material parameters. Strong local field enhancement is generated at the gap regions between the nanocubes and the metallic film. We show that strong optical bistability and all-optical switching behavior can be obtained by loading these nanogaps with Kerr nonlinear materials. Relatively low input intensities are required to obtain these nonlinear effects. The proposed design can lead to efficient, low-power, and ultrafast all-optical memories and scattering nanoswitches.
Optical bistability at nanoscale is a promising way to realize optical switching, a key component of integrated nanophotonic devices. In this work we present an analytical model for optical bistability in a metal nano-antenna involving Kerr nonlinear medium based on detailed analysis of the correlation between the incident and extinction light intensity under surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The model allows one to construct a clear picture on how the threshold, contrast, and other characteristics of optical bistability are influenced by the nonlinear coefficient, incident light intensity, local field enhancement factor, SPR peak width, and other physical parameters of the nano-antenna. It shows that the key towards low threshold power and high contrast optical bistability in the nanosystem is to reduce the SPR peak width. This can be achieved by reducing the absorption of metal materials or introducing gain media into nanosystems.
A novel ultrafast all-optical switching based on metal-insulator-metal nanoplasmonic waveguide with a Kerr nonlinear resonator is proposed and investigated numerically. With the finite-difference time-domain simulations, it is demonstrated that an obvious optical bistability of the signal light appears by varying the control-light intensity, and an excellent switching effect is achieved. This bistability originates from the intensity-dependent change induced in the dielectric constant of Kerr nonlinear material filled in the nanodisk resonator. It is found that the proposed all-optical switching exhibits femtosecond-scale feedback time.
We have theoretically analysed the optical bistability due to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SP's) in samples, prism/metal film/nonlinear optic medium and prism/gap material/metal film/non-linear optic medium, where the non-linear optic medium has an intensity-dependent refractive index. We considered two cases, i.e. non-linearity along the propagation direction of SP's and along the normal to the interface. In the former case, the critical input power for the optical bistability was too high to allow experimental observation, while it was reasonably low for the latter case.
We theoretically investigated optical third-order nonlinearity of a coherently coupled exciton-plasmon hybrid system under a strong control field with a weak probe field. The analytic formulas of exciton population and effective third-order optical susceptibility of the hybrid of a metal nanoparticle (MNP) and a semiconductor quantum dot (SQD) were deduced. The bistable exciton population and the induced bistable nonlinear absorption and refraction response were revealed. The bistability region can be tuned by adjusting the size of metal nanoparticle, interparticle distance and intensity of control field. Our results have perspective applications in optical information processing based on resonant coupling of exciton-plasmon.
Multiple nonlinear effects with second-harmonic (SH) generation and optical bistability (OB) are highly desired but rather rare due to insufficient intrinsic nonlinearity in most nonlinear media. Here, a nonlinear microcavity coupled to a metallic nanoparticle (MNP) is suggested to realize the bistable SH generation. When two counterpropagating driving fields are injected into the cavity, a traditional SH pathway is constructed via the two-photon process of fundamental-harmonic (FH) photons. In addition, we report the coexistence between the SH and OB effects under the condition that the strong excitation and the detuning management for the driving fields boost system nonlinear responses. In the presence of a control field toward the MNP, our calculation finds that the traditional and plasmon-induced SH pathways in the present system allow enhancing the SH conversion efficiency and reducing the OB thresholds simultaneously. With the control field intensity increasing, a linear growth rate for the SH efficiency maximum is achieved. Furthermore, the relative phase between the driving and control fields has profound effects on modulating the bistable SH efficiency, the bistable interval and the thresholds.