NER: Exploration of Nanoscale Plasmonic Circuits

纳米等离子体电路的探索对于纳米技术的未来发展，提供允许在纳米级控制信息和能量传输的连接机制是至关重要的。由于较高的工作频率，光学互连提供比电子互连高得多的信息承载能力。不幸的是，由于光的衍射极限，传统的电介质光学互连不能按比例缩小到纳米范围。我们建议利用金属纳米结构中的等离子体激元-极化激元激发，以光学频率、近似光速和纳米尺度路由信息，这些信息通过光学手段无法访问。特别是，我们将设计，制造和表征一组基本的构建模块，如纳米线，纳米粒子的有序阵列等，这一探索性计划的成功将为在纳米尺度上建立一种新的光学信息交换机制的基本可行性提供一个根本性的突破。该计划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计划，该计划为夏季参与研究的本科生提供支持。此外，Fan和Brongersma目前正在合作开发一门微型和纳米级光子学课程，从即将到来的冬季开始定期授课。该课程承诺从理论和实验角度为来自物理学，应用物理学，化学，电气工程和材料科学等广泛学科的学生带来纳米尺度光子学的兴奋。

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.