Nanoplasmonics exploits light-matter interaction in nanostructures as a tool to tailor the optical response well below the diffraction limit. This possibility - combined with the continuing progress of miniaturization - is strongly contributing to the emergent field of nano-optoelectronics. Plasmonic systems are typically based on metals and devices such as resonators, antennas, emitters have been predicted and demonstrated using metallic. A major effort is dedicated today in expanding its scope to semiconducting materials, which add the exciting possibility of achieving electrically tunable and/or active devices. A remarkable example is provided by the recent progresses shown in graphene, where the high electron mobility allows a gate-tuning of the propagation of surface plasmons. Another idea is the excitation of localized plasmon resonances (LPRs), analogous to those of metallic nanoparticles, which could however be manipulated and transported in a sort of device circuit. Here I will examine a few such systems and device concepts which yield promise of developing new functionalities and enhanced operation performances.


Seminar, April 29, 2016, 15:00. ICFO’s Seminar Room

Hosted by Prof. Frank Koppens