| Abstract |
The project aims to establish the basis for a new type of photonics; one based on metallic materials rather than dielectric and semiconducting materials that dominate present day photonics technology.Metallic photonic materials demonstrate unique properties due to the existence on metals of electromagnetic surface waves known as surface plasmons (SPs). SPs are set to become part of the photonics revolution in which the interaction between light and matter is controlled by producing patterned structures that are periodic on the scale of the wavelength of light. SPs open up a wealth of new possibilities for photonics because they allow the concentration and propagation of light below the usual resolution limit. The field is now at a critical stage; impressive pioneering results have been reported but doubts persist about the practical utility of using SPs. The damping of SPs by absorption in the metal is usually considered to be serious enough to prevent exploitation. This project will expand on recent work indicating that such problems can be overcome by nano-structuring the metals involved, thus opening the way for exciting new photonic elements and devices. The project partners will provide long term interdisciplinary research into the phenomena that underlie surface plasmon photonics.. Nanostructure will be used to control the coupling between SPs and light and to control the propagation of light. Proof-in-principle demonstration experiments relevant to optical and photonic devices that employ SPs will also be undertaken. A particular feature of the project is the strong collaboration between theoretical and experimental researchers. Through such collaboration this project will develop new knowledge and provide an ability to design metallic nano-structures for specific photonic purposes.By providing a critical assessment of the viability of SPs for photonics the project will enable the potential for a new technology to be assessed.
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