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，提供连接机制以实现纳米级的受控信息和能量传输是至关重要的。由于工作频率较高，光互连比电子互连提供更高的信息承载能力。不幸的是，由于光的衍射极限，传统的介电光学互连不能缩小到纳米范围。我们建议利用金属纳米结构中的等离子体-极化激子激发，以光学频率、近似光速和纳米尺度传输信息，这是通过光学手段无法获得的。特别是，我们将设计，制造和表征一组基本的构建块，如纳米线，有序的纳米颗粒阵列等，可用于构建复杂的结构和功能的互连结构。这一探索项目的成功将为建立纳米尺度新型光信息交换机制的基本可行性提供一个根本性的突破。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项目，该项目为本科生在夏季参与研究提供支持。此外，范和布朗格斯玛目前正在合作开发一门微纳米光子学课程，从即将到来的冬季学期开始定期教授。本课程将从理论和实验的角度为来自物理学、应用物理学、化学、电子工程和材料科学等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.