Plasmo-Nano Devices

Miniaturizing optical connections and controlling optical processes at the sub wavelength scale are expected key technologies not only for the future of data processing but also for the development of various sensors needed in nanotechnologies. Among other strategies, a promising perspective shows up from the research works on optical nanodevices involving surface plasmon polaritons sustained by nanostructures, also called plasmonics.

During the last years, European laboratories succeeded to build a significant advance over concurrent groups of other continents. To ensure the definitive European leadership in this field of research with a high potential of industrical application, it is now essential to federate the human and technical resources spread in Europe into a Network of Excellence aimed at developing prototypes of surface plasmon nanodevices for controlling optical processes at the sub wavelength scale.

Abstract

The research objectives of the network are to address the issues of miniaturized photonic circuitry by exploiting physical phenomena related to surface plasmons. Surface plasmons are electromagnetic waves that propagate along the surface of a conductor. The structure of a metal surface can be controlled by nanofabrication techniques in order to tailor the properties of surface plasmons and more specifically their interaction with visible and infra-red light, thereby offering the potential for new photonic devices. Surface plasmons physics is being explored for its potential in subwavelength optics, data storage, solar cells, microscopy and biosensing .

Click the individual links below for further information of the project consortium.