Study of Plasmonics in Hybrid Nanostructures

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The study of plasmonics and nanophotonics has the potential to reshape the physics of light-matter interactions in metallic nanohybrids and their applications to nanotechnology and nanomedicine. Nanohybrids are made from quantum emitters, metallic nanostructures, polar materials and photonic crystals. We are entering an era of unprecedented development of fabrication and numerical simulation techniques to understand the physics of nanohybrids. Despite widespread recognitions that nanohybrids will play a significant role in science and technology, researchers are trying to answer the key question: how is the scattered light from nanohybrids enhanced or quenched and why does the intensity of the scattered light depend on the size and shapes of nanohybrids? My research program will answer these key questions through theoretical formulations, computational modeling and comparison between our theory and experiments. We will specifically assess the light scattering in nanohybrids fabricated from three types of metallic nanostructures: (1) gapless materials (i.e. graphene, germanene, silicene); (2) noble metals (nanospheres, nanoshells, nanoprism) and (3) metamaterials. In addition, the dynamical properties of neurons in the brain will be investigated using nanohybrids made from neurons and graphene. We will calculate surface plasmon polaritons by varying the shape and size of nanohybrids due to the coupling of light (photon) with surface plasmons. We will study the physics of the plasmon heating due to cold and hot carriers that are produced in metallic nanostructures due to the absorption of light from surface plasmons. The reduction of plasmon heating will improve the life of nanodevices. On the other hand, the enhancement of the plasmon heating can be used for photothermal cancer therapy. We will also work to understand the mechanism of the enhancement and quenching of the fluorescence in quantum emitters due to the exciton and surface plasmon polariton interactions. The enhancement of the fluorescence will improve the detection of smaller tumors in the human body. My research program will address questions at the forefront of plasmonic research and provide fundamental knowledge on light-matter interactions in nanohybrids. It will also help to fabricate plasmonic and photonic sensing and switching nanodevices. We have many international collaborations in place and expect to participate actively in plasmonics research. This research program will surely contribute to Canada's competitiveness in nanotechnology and nanomedicine and will provide a training environment that will allow my students to find employment in diverse sectors including academics, government and industry.