Studies of plasmonic hot-spot translation by a metal-dielectric layered superlens

Mark D. Thoreson, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Rasmus Nielsen, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Paul R. West, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Arian Kriesch, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Zhengtong Liu, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Jieran R. Fang, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Ulf Pescheld, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Alexander V. Kildishev, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Vladimir M. Shalaev, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University
Alexandra Boltasseva, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University

Abstract

We have studied the ability of a lamellar near-field superlens to transfer an enhanced electromagnetic field to the far side of the lens. In this work, we have experimentally and numerically investigated superlensing in the visible range. By using the resonant hot-spot field enhancements from optical nanoantennas as sources, we investigated the translation of these sources to the far side of a layered silver-silica superlens operating in the canalization regime. Using near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), we have observed evidence of superlens-enabled enhanced-field translation at a wavelength of about 680 nm. Specifically, we discuss our recent experimental and simulation results on the translation of hot spots using a silver-silica layered superlens design. We compare the experimental results with our numerical simulations and discuss the perspectives and limitations of our approach.

Discipline(s)

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology