NER: Exploration of Nanoscale Plasmonic Circuits

纳米级等离子体电路的探索对于纳米技术的未来发展，提供能够在纳米水平上控制信息和能量传输的连接机制是至关重要的。由于工作频率较高，光互连比电子互连提供了更高的信息承载能力。遗憾的是，由于光的衍射限制，传统的介质光学互连不能缩小到纳米级。我们建议利用金属纳米结构中的等离子体激元-偏振子激发，以光学频率、大约光速和纳米尺度传送信息，这是光学手段无法获得的。特别是，我们将设计、制造和表征一系列基本的构建块，如纳米线、有序纳米阵列等，这些基本构建块可以用来构建复杂结构和功能的互联结构。这一探索性计划的成功将为建立一种新的纳米级光学信息交换机制的基本可行性提供根本性突破。该项目将为研究生在一个令人兴奋的新兴研究领域提供一个极好的培训机会。我们将利用斯坦福大学现有的本科生研究经验，为本科生在暑期参与研究提供支持。此外，Fan和Brongersma目前正在合作开发一门微米和纳米级光子学课程，从即将到来的冬季季度开始定期教授。这门课程承诺从理论和实验两个角度为包括物理、应用物理、化学、电气工程和材料科学在内的广泛学科的学生带来纳米级光子学的兴奋。

Exploration of Nanoscale Plasmonic CircuitsFor future developments in nano-technology, it is essential to provide connecting mechanisms that allow controlled information and energy transport at the nanometer-level. Because of the higher operating frequency, optical interconnects provide a much higher information carrying capacity than electronic interconnects. Unfortunately, conventional dielectric optical interconnects cannot be scaled down to the nanometer regime due to the diffraction limit of light. We propose to take advantage of plasmon-polariton excitations in metallic nanostructures to route information at optical frequencies, at approximately the speed of light, and in the nanometer scale that have been not been accessible through optical means. In particular, we will design, fabricate, and characterize a set of basic building blocks, such as nanowires, ordered arrays of nanoparticles, etc., that can be utilized to build interconnecting structures of complex architecture and function.The success of this exploratory program could provide a fundamental breakthrough in establishing the basic feasibility of a new optical information exchange mechanism at nano-scale. This program will provide a wonderful training opportunity for graduate students in an exciting emerging field of study. We will take advantage of the existing Research Experience for Undergraduate program at Stanford University, which provides support for undergraduate students participating in research in the summer. In addition, Fan and Brongersma are currently collaborating to develop a course in micro and nanoscale photonics to be taught regularly starting this upcoming winter quarter. The course promises to bring the excitement of nano-scale photonics, from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, to students from a wide range of disciplines including Physics, Applied Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, and Material Science.