Nano-optics: plasmonics, near-field imaging and optical trapping for applications to solar cells and biology

纳米光学是一门研究光在纳米尺度上的行为及其与物质相互作用的新兴科学。许多纳米光子器件已经被提出用于不同的应用，其中金属纳米（等离子体）结构攻击巨大的研究兴趣，因为它的高限制和增强的光在近场的能力。时域有限差分法（FDTD）等数值计算工具被广泛应用于电磁光学问题的求解和纳米光子学器件的建模。此外，我们更感兴趣的是纳米光学，解决更多的基本问题，基本概念，物理理解和理论分析的纳米光子结构。 基于我们在衍射光学和图像科学方面的背景，我们在这个发现研究计划中提出了六个相关的纳米光学研究项目：（1）用于高效薄膜太阳能电池的等离子体纳米结构的衍射;（2）金属超透镜的近场成像;（3）纳米棒非线性光学源的纳米分辨率成像;（4）光学捕获的纳米棒上的辐射力和扭矩;（5）光学捕获的纳米棒上的辐射力和扭矩。（5）生物细胞在光阱中的变形;（6）光镊实验，用于测试角蛋白中间丝对细胞力学活动的影响。 我们的目标是在纳米光学的相关领域做出原创性的重大贡献，这将导致在薄膜太阳能电池，纳米分辨率成像和生物细胞力学中应用的纳米光子器件的创新设计。长期目标是通过我们的研究贡献，国际和内部合作以及高素质人员的培训，在魁北克和加拿大的纳米光学这些重要的新领域建立研究专业知识。

Nano-Optics is an emerging science on the behavior of the light and its interaction with the material in nano-scale. Many nano-photonic devices for different applications have been proposed, among which the metal nano-sized (plasmonic) structures attack huge research interest because of its capacity for high confinement and enhancement of the light in the near-field. Numerical tools, such as the Finite Difference in Time Domain (FDTD), are widely used for solving electromagnetic optics problems and modeling nano-photonics devices. Furthermore, we are more interested in the nano-optics that addresses more fundamental issues, basic concepts, physical understanding and theoretical analysis of nanophotonic structures. From our background in diffractive optics and image science we propose six related research projects in nano-optics in this Discovery research program: (1) Diffraction of the plasmonic nano-structure for efficient thin film solar cells; (2) Near-field imaging with metallic superlens; (3) Nano-resolution imaging using nanorod nonlinear optics sources; (4) Radiation force and torque on the optically trapped nanorod; (5) Biological cell deformation in optical traps; (6) Optical tweezers for test the impact of Keratin intermediate filaments on cell's mechanical activities. Our objective is to make original and significant contributions in the related areas of nano-optics, which will lead to innovative designs of nanophotonic devices for applications in the thin film solar cells, the nano-resolution imaging and the mechanics of biological cells. The long-term objective is to build research expertise in these important new areas of nano-optics in Quebec and Canada through our research contributions, international and internal collaborations and training of highly qualified personals.