Optical properties of metallic nanostructured films and solids

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The research program proposed will study in a comprehensive way the optical properties of metallic nanoparticles and nanostructures that offer unique properties for the design of innovative devices in a variety of applications that include optical communication, optical storing, sensing and non-linear effects. The possibility of designing for example a highly integrated optical device with structural elements smaller than the light wavelength that can offer a means for guiding and manipulating light is a very exciting prospect, prompting some researchers to consider this as the "next big thing" in nanotechnology. The renewed interest in materials consisting of small metallic particles or surface-plasmon materials (excitation of surface plasmons- collective oscillations of electrons-is possible in metallic particles) derives principally from the fact that we are now able to fabricate with precision nanoparticles and nanoshells (dielectric particles covered by a metallic shell) and their periodic regular arrays that can exhibit photonic crystal properties (selective total transmission or reflection of light) tailored to a specific application. Such a possibility calls for a rigorous study of nanoparticle (or nanoshell) properties that are often very different from bulk properties and intensive theoretical modeling of particle array properties. New approaches both for experimental procedures, including fabrication of nanoparticles and nanostructures, and theoretical modeling are proposed in view of a significant contribution to this new and very important strategic field of research. In particular, potential applications in optical waveguiding and in sensing will be explored. The work will be conducted in collaboration with a NRC institute which can offer a most advanced NanoImprint Lithography technology for the fabrication of nanostructures. Several graduate students will be trained in diverse aspects of our research program.