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Nanoelectromechanical modulation of a strongly-coupled plasmonic dimer

Author

Listed:
  • Jung-Hwan Song

    (Stanford University)

  • Søren Raza

    (Technical University of Denmark)

  • Jorik Groep

    (Stanford University
    University of Amsterdam)

  • Ju-Hyung Kang

    (Stanford University)

  • Qitong Li

    (Stanford University)

  • Pieter G. Kik

    (University of Central Florida)

  • Mark L. Brongersma

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

The ability of two nearly-touching plasmonic nanoparticles to squeeze light into a nanometer gap has provided a myriad of fundamental insights into light–matter interaction. In this work, we construct a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) that capitalizes on the unique, singular behavior that arises at sub-nanometer particle-spacings to create an electro-optical modulator. Using in situ electron energy loss spectroscopy in a transmission electron microscope, we map the spectral and spatial changes in the plasmonic modes as they hybridize and evolve from a weak to a strong coupling regime. In the strongly-coupled regime, we observe a very large mechanical tunability (~250 meV/nm) of the bonding-dipole plasmon resonance of the dimer at ~1 nm gap spacing, right before detrimental quantum effects set in. We leverage our findings to realize a prototype NEMS light-intensity modulator operating at ~10 MHz and with a power consumption of only 4 fJ/bit.

Suggested Citation

  • Jung-Hwan Song & Søren Raza & Jorik Groep & Ju-Hyung Kang & Qitong Li & Pieter G. Kik & Mark L. Brongersma, 2021. "Nanoelectromechanical modulation of a strongly-coupled plasmonic dimer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-20273-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20273-2
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