Plasmonic hybridization induced trapping and manipulation of a single Au nanowire on a metallic surface

Magneto-optical-like effect in tight focusing of azimuthally polarized sine-Gaussian beams

Magneto-optical effects, which have been known for over a century, are among the most fundamental phenomena in physics and describe changes in the polarization state of light when it interacts with magnetic materials. When a polarized plane wave propagates in or through a homogeneous and isotropic transparent medium, it is generally accepted that its transverse polarization structure remains unchanged. However, we show that a strong radial polarization component can be generated when an azimuthally polarized sine-Gaussian plane wave is tightly focused by a high numerical aperture lens, resulting in a magneto-optical-like effect that does not require external magnetic field or magnetic medium. Calculations show that the intensity structure and polarization distribution of the highly confined electric field strongly depend on the parameters m and φ0 in the sinusoidal term, where m can be used to control the number of the multifocal spots and φ0 can be used to control the position of each focal spot. Finally, we show that this peculiar electric field distribution can be used to realize multiple particles trapping with controllable numbers and locations.

Switchable rotation of metal nanostructures in an intensity chirality-invariant focus field

Light-induced rotation is a fundamental motion form that is of great significance for flexible and multifunctional manipulation modes. However, current optical rotation by a single optical field is mostly unidirectional, where switchable rotation manipulation is still challenging. To address this issue, we demonstrate a switchable rotation of non-spherical nanostructures within a single optical focus field. Interestingly, the intensity of the focus field is chiral invariant. The rotation switch is a result of the energy flux reversal in front and behind the focal plane. We quantitatively analyze the optical force exerted on a metal nanorod at different planes, as well as the surrounding energy flux. Our experimental results indicate that the direct switchover of rotational motion is achievable by adjusting the relative position of the nanostructure to the focal plane. This result enriches the basic motion mode of micro-manipulation and is expected to create potential opportunities in many application fields, such as biological cytology and optical micromachining.

Plasmonic structure: toward multifunctional optical device with controllability

Multifunctional plasmonic components are the foundation for achieving a flexible and versatile photonic integrated loop. A compact device that can transform between multiple different functions is presented. The proposed structure consists of a resonator with a rotatable oval core coupled with three waveguides. The temporal coupled-mode theory and finite-difference time-domain method reveal that embedding of the elliptical core alters the original resonance mode, and the rotation of the core can manipulate field distribution in the cavity. Specifically, two switchable operating wavelengths are obtained, and the wavelengths can be adjusted by modifying the structural parameters of the elliptical core. Ultimately, a multifunctional optical device with signal controllability can be realized through the rotation of the embedded rotor: power splitter with selectable wavelengths and splitting ratios; bandpass filter with controllable output ports, wavelengths, and transmissions; demultiplexer with tunable output ports and transmissions; and switch with variable output ports, wavelengths, and transmissions. The fabrication tolerance of the device is investigated, considering waveguide width and coupling distance. This multifunctional plasmonic device is of great significance for the design and implementation of optical networks-on-chips.

Plasmonic-Thermoelectric Nanotweezers for Immersive SERS Mapping

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology usually uses metallic nanoparticles to enhance Raman scattering signals, thereby significantly adding to molecule-level recognition and detection. However, realization of nanometer-scaled SERS imaging in liquid environments is extremely difficult due to the requirements of both precise scanning of single metallic nanoparticle and high enhancement field and thus has never been achieved before. To overcome this obstacle, we demonstrate an immersive nanometer-scaled SERS mapping technology, based on dynamic scanning of a single metallic nanoparticle with a plasmonic-thermoelectric nanotweezers system. The technology offers greater stability in the plasmonic trapping of gold nanoparticles at relative low power, as well as generating higher electric fields in the gap region. Through its dynamics, two-dimensional nanometer-scaled SERS imaging is achieved successfully. In regard to in liquid environments, this technology provides a mapping method for label-free imaging of ultrathin materials, structures, and biological samples.

Linear and angular momentum properties induced by radial- and azimuthal-variant polarized beams in a strongly focused optical system

Optical linear and angular momenta have attracted tremendous research interest in recent years. In this paper we theoretically investigate the electromagnetic fields and linear and angular momentum properties of tightly focused radial- and azimuthal-variant vector input beams. Calculations show that a uniform 3D optical cage can be achieved when the optical degree of freedom of polarization in the radial direction is introduced. Furthermore, the distributions of linear and angular momenta in the focal volume are revealed. Moreover, we numerically investigate the gradient, scattering, and total forces as well as spin and orbital torques on a Rayleigh particle generated by the optical cage. It is found that there are two equilibrium positions before and after the focal plane, both of which can achieve stable 3D particles capture. Most importantly, the longitudinal spin and orbital torques show the same patterns but in opposite directions in the two equilibrium positions, thus, the unwinding of the double helix can be expected to be achieved by virtue of this special optical torque.

Nanoparticle manipulation using plasmonic optical tweezers based on particle sizes and refractive indices

As an effective tool for micro/nano-scale particle manipulation, plasmonic optical tweezers can be used to manipulate cells, DNA, and macromolecules. Related research is of great significance to the development of nanoscience. In this work, we investigated a sub-wavelength particle manipulation technique based on plasmonic optical tweezers. When the local plasmonic resonance is excited on the gold nanostructure arrays, the local electromagnetic field will be enhanced to generate a strong gradient force acting on nanoparticles, which could achieve particle sorting in sub-wavelength scale. On this basis, we explored the plasmonic enhancement effect of the sorting device and the corresponding optical force and optical potential well distributions. Additionally, the sorting effect of the sorting device was investigated in statistical methods, which showed that the sorting device could effectively sort particles of different diameters and refractive indices.

Manipulation of a Single Metal Nanowire by an Unpolarized Gaussian Beam

Optical manipulation of metal nanowires offers a promising route to building optoelectronic nanosystems, which remains a challenge because of their strong absorption or scattering properties. Here, precise optical manipulation of a single Ag nanowire, including capture, translation, rotation, immobilization, and release, was readily achieved within a large operation range of 100 μm by a single unpolarized Gaussian beam based on an optical scattering force. Besides, the optical forces and torques exerted on the Ag nanowires under different conditions were quantitatively analyzed and calculated by simulation to give insight into the manipulation mechanism. This proposed scattering-force-based optical manipulation method also has great position and orientation stability with a capture stiffness of 1.2 pN/μm and an orientation standard deviation of 0.3°. More surprisingly, it is independent of both laser polarization and the metal material, shape, and size and is a universal and promising strategy for the manipulation and assembly of nontransparent structures in mesoscopic/Mie sizes.

Controllable transportation of microparticles along structured waveguides by the plasmonic spin-hall effect

With the nanoscale integration advantage of near field photonics, controllable manipulation and transportation of micro-objects have possessed plentiful applications in the fields of physics, biology and material sciences. However, multifunctional optical manipulation like controllable transportation and synchronous routing by nano-devices are limited and rarely reported. Here we propose a new type of Y-shaped waveguide optical conveyor belt, which can transport and route particles along the structured waveguide based on the plasmonic spin-hall effect. The routing of micro-particles in different branches is determined by the optical force components difference at the center of the Y junction along the two branches of the waveguide. The influence of light source and structural parameters on the optical forces and transportation capability are numerically studied. The results illustrate that the proposed structured waveguide optical conveyor belt can transport the microparticles controllably in different branches of the waveguide. Due to the selective transportation ability of microparticles by the 2D waveguide, our work shows great application potential in the region of on-chip optical manipulation.

Subwavelength generation of orientation-unlimited energy flow in 4π microscopy

Manipulation of light energy flow within the tight focus not only is important to the fundamental study of light-matter interactions but also underpins significant practical applications. However, the coupling between the electric and the magnetic fields of a focused light beam sets a fundamental barrier for independent control of these field components, restricting the focal energy flow primarily in the axial direction. In this paper, a 4π microscopic configuration is theoretically proposed to untangle the tight relation between the electric field and the magnetic field in a subwavelength-scale focal voxel. By independently altering the amplitudes of different field components in the focal region, energy flow with three-dimensionally unlimited orientation and ultra-high orientation purity (more than 90%) can be generated. This result expands the flexibility of energy flow manipulations and holds great potential in nanophotonics such as light scattering and optical force at subwavelength dimensions.

Optical Pulling Forces Enabled by Hyperbolic Metamaterials

We propose a novel approach to generating optical pulling forces on a gold nanowire, which are placed inside or above a hyperbolic metamaterial and subjected to plane wave illumination. Two mechanisms are found to induce the optical pulling force, including the concave isofrequency contour of the hyperbolic metamaterial and the excitation of directional surface plasmon polaritons. We systematically study the optical forces under various conditions, including the wavelength, the angle of incidence of light, and the nanowire radius. It is shown that the optical pulling force enabled by hyperbolic metamaterials is broadband and insensitive to the angle of incidence. The mechanisms and results reported here open a new avenue to manipulating nanoscale objects.

Plasmonic tweezers: for nanoscale optical trapping and beyond

Optical tweezers and associated manipulation tools in the far field have had a major impact on scientific and engineering research by offering precise manipulation of small objects. More recently, the possibility of performing manipulation with surface plasmons has opened opportunities not feasible with conventional far-field optical methods. The use of surface plasmon techniques enables excitation of hotspots much smaller than the free-space wavelength; with this confinement, the plasmonic field facilitates trapping of various nanostructures and materials with higher precision. The successful manipulation of small particles has fostered numerous and expanding applications. In this paper, we review the principles of and developments in plasmonic tweezers techniques, including both nanostructure-assisted platforms and structureless systems. Construction methods and evaluation criteria of the techniques are presented, aiming to provide a guide for the design and optimization of the systems. The most common novel applications of plasmonic tweezers, namely, sorting and transport, sensing and imaging, and especially those in a biological context, are critically discussed. Finally, we consider the future of the development and new potential applications of this technique and discuss prospects for its impact on science.

Controllable transport of nanoparticles along waveguides by spin-orbit coupling of light

Waveguide optical tweezers can capture and transport nanoparticles, and have important applications in biology, physics, and materials science. However, traditional waveguide optical tweezers need to couple incident light into one end of the waveguide, which causes problems such as difficulty in alignment and low efficiency. Here, we propose a new type of waveguide optical tweezers based on spin-orbit coupling of light. Under the effect of spin-orbit coupling between the waveguide and nearby particles illuminated by a circularly polarized light, the particles experience a lateral recoil force and a strong optical gradient force, which make particles in a large area to be trapped near the waveguide and then transmitted along the waveguide, avoiding the coupling of light into one end of the waveguide. We further demonstrate that the particles can be transmitted along a curved waveguide and even rotated along a ring-shaped waveguide, and its transmission direction can be simply switched by adjusting the spin polarization of incident light. This work has significance in the research of optical on-chip nano-tweezers.

Plasmonic tweezers for optical manipulation and biomedical applications

This comprehensive minireview highlights the recent research on the subtypes, optical manipulation, and biomedical applications of plasmonic tweezers.

Mapping the weak plasmonic transverse field by a dielectric-nanoparticle-on-film structure with ultra-high precision

Highly confined electromagnetic fields play a significant role in modern nano-optics, among which surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are outstanding because of their subwavelength and enhancement nature. While many state-of-the-art methods have been proposed to uncover the field distribution of SPPs, it still faces challenge to map the weak transverse field component (the field tangential to the interface) of SPPs with high contrast and precision. We propose a direct imaging technique, which employs a dielectric-nanoparticle-on-metal-film (DNP-MF) structure as a near-field probe, to overcome this difficulty. The angular distribution of the scattering radiation from the structure is strongly polarization dependent. By extracting the scattering signals that are mainly induced by the horizontal polarization, the imaging of the weak plasmonic transverse field with high precision can be achieved. The mappings of SPPs distributions excited by various vector beams were performed in experiment, which accord excellent with theory. This technique provides a new approach for near-field imaging with high contrast and reliability, which is expected to be valuable for studying the vectorial features of SPPs such as transverse spin, spin-orbit interactions, etc.

High-performance solar-blind SnO2 nanowire photodetectors assembled using optical tweezers

One-dimensional semiconducting SnO2 nanowires with wide bandgaps are promising candidates to build many important optoelectronic devices. Because building these devices involves the assembly of nanowires into complex structures, manipulation of the active materials needs to be done with high spatial precision. In this paper, an optical tweezer system, comprising a spatial light-modulator, a microscope, and optical elements, is used to individually trap, transfer, and assemble SnO2 nanowires into two-terminal photodetectors in a liquid environment. After the assembly using optical trapping, the two ends of the SnO2 nanowire photodetectors, which are connected with the electrodes, were further stabilized using a focused laser. During exposure to 275 nm deep-ultraviolet light, the as-assembled photodetectors show a high Iph/Idark ratio of 2.99 × 105, a large responsivity of 4.3 × 104 A W-1, an excellent external quantum efficiency of 1.94 × 105, and a high detectivity of 2.32 × 1013 Jones. The photoresponse-speed of the devices could be improved further using passivation with a polymer. The rise and decay times are about 60 ms and 100 ms, respectively. As a result of this study, we can confirm that non-contact optical trapping can enable the construction of nanowire architectures for optoelectronic, bioelectronic, and other devices.

Nonlinearity-Induced Multiplexed Optical Trapping and Manipulation with Femtosecond Vector Beams

Optical trapping and manipulation of atoms, nanoparticles, and biological entities are widely employed in quantum technology, biophysics, and sensing. Single traps are typically achieved with linearly polarized light, while vortex beams form rotationally unstable symmetric traps. Here we demonstrate multiplexed optical traps reconfigurable with intensity and polarization of the trapping beam using intensity-dependent polarizability of nanoparticles. Nonlinearity combined with a longitudinal field of focused femtosecond vortex beams results in a stable optical force potential with multiple traps, in striking contrast to a linear trapping regime. The number of traps and their orientation can be controlled by the cylindrical vector beam order, polarization, and intensity. The nonlinear trapping demonstrated here on the example of plasmonic nanoparticles opens up opportunities for deterministic trapping and polarization-controlled manipulation of multiple dielectric and semiconductor particles, atoms, and biological objects since most of them exhibit a required intensity-dependent refractive index.

Focusing properties of arbitrary optical fields combining spiral phase and cylindrically symmetric state of polarization

The tight focusing properties of optical fields combining a spiral phase and cylindrically symmetric state of polarization are presented. First, we theoretically analyze the mathematical characterization, Stokes parameters, and Poincaré sphere representations of arbitrary cylindrical vector (CV) vortex beams. Then, based on the vector diffraction theory, we derive and build an integrated analytical model to calculate the electromagnetic field and Poynting vector distributions of the input CV vortex beams. The calculations reveal that a generalized CV vortex beam can generate a sharper focal spot than that of a radially polarized (RP) plane beam in the focal plane. Besides, the focal size decrease accompanies its elongation along the optical axis. Hence, it seems that there is a trade-off between the transverse and axial resolutions. In addition, under the precondition that the absolute values between polarization order and topological charge are equal, a higher-order CV vortex can also achieve a smaller focal size than an RP plane beam. Further, the intensity for the sidelobe admits a significant suppression. To give a deep understanding of the peculiar focusing properties, the magnetic field and Poynting vector distributions are also demonstrated in detail. These properties may be helpful in applications such as optical trapping and manipulation of particles and superresolution microscopy imaging.

Focus shaping by tailoring arbitrary hybrid polarization states that have a combination of orthogonal linear polarization bases

We report a focus shaping method by tailoring hybrid states of polarization of arbitrary polarized beams that have a combination of orthogonal linear polarization bases. Such hybridly polarized beams comprising linear, elliptical, and circular polarizations in the beam cross section, have completely different optical properties compared to the scalar and locally linear-polarized vector beams. We demonstrate that, apart from the orientation of the local polarization state, another two degrees of freedom including the local ellipticity and the handedness in the beam cross section can be used in focus shaping. Square-shaped patterns, multiple foci, three-dimensional optical cages, optical needles, and channels can be obtained due to the increased control without any additional phase or amplitude modulations.

Two-dimensional arbitrary nano-manipulation on a plasmonic metasurface

In this Letter, we report on a plasmonic nano-ellipse metasurface with the purpose of trapping and two-dimensional (2D) arbitrary transport of nanoparticles by means of rotating the polarization of an excitation beam. The locations of hot spots within a metasurface are polarization dependent, thus making it possible to turn on/off the adjacent hot spots and then convey the trapped target by rotating the incident polarization state. For the case of a metasurface with a unit cell of perpendicularly orientated nano-ellipses, the hot spots with higher intensities are located at both apexes of the nano-ellipse whose major axis is parallel to the direction of polarization. When the polarization gradually rotates to its counterpart direction, the trapped particle may move around the ellipse and transfer to the most adjacent ellipse, due to the unbalanced trap potentials around the nano-ellipse. Clockwise and counterclockwise rotation would guide the particle in a different direction, which makes it possible to convey the particle arbitrarily within the plasmonic metasurface by setting a time sequence of polarization rotation. As confirmed by the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain analysis, our design offers a novel scheme of 2D arbitrary transport with nanometer accuracy, which could be used in many on-chip optofluidic applications.

Dynamic plasmonic nano-traps for single molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Intense electric fields at the nanoscale are essential for single molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection. Such fields can be achieved in plasmonic nano-gaps between nanoparticles and metal films through hybridization of surface plasmons. The nano-gaps could be formed and dynamically controlled by using plasmonic tweezers; however, the aggregation of particles in the plasmonic field degrades each particle's enhancement and spoils the nanosized-spatial resolution. Here, dual-plasmonic tweezers are proposed and demonstrated to accurately control the number of nano-gaps and enhancement by tailoring a crater-shaped potential well in the nano-trap system. As the electric field in the nano-gap is intense, SERS spectral signatures of a single molecular level are probed simultaneously. These advantages point towards the implementation of enhanced Raman spectra, and broad applications in optical molecular detection.

Focus engineering based on analytical formulae for tightly focused polarized beams with arbitrary geometric configurations of linear polarization

Highly confined electromagnetic fields with controllable intensity profiles and polarization orientations are greatly desired in many fields. In this paper, we report on the generation of highly confined fields through tightly focused locally linearly polarized beams. Using the Richards-Wolf vectorial diffraction method, we derive and build integrated analytical formulae for calculating the tightly focused field of polarized beams with arbitrary geometric configurations of linear polarization. Based on the analytical model, the focusing properties of four types of polarized light beams, i.e., linearly, azimuthally, radially, and spatially variant polarized beams, with locally linear states of polarization are investigated numerically and discussed in detail. By manipulating the radial and azimuthal indices and initial phases, we obtain a tunable three-dimensional optical cage, multifoci, optical needles, and channels in the focal volume of a high-numerical-aperture objective lens. These peculiar properties may find applications in fields such as optical trapping and manipulation of nanoparticles and super-resolution microscopy imaging.

High-speed near-field photolithography at 16.85 nm linewidth with linearly polarized illumination

Plasmonic focusing was investigated in concentric rings with a central pillar under linearly polarized illumination with a specific incident angle. When changing the incident angle of linearly polarized beam between 6 and 15 degree away from the normal direction, the focal spot size can keep a steady value of 37 nm, smaller than the focal spot with the radially polarized beam at the same excited condition, 45 nm. Combining this with the high-speed near-field photolithography technology, we demonstrated a plasmonic lithography with 16.85 nm linewidth on both organic and inorganic photo-resists in large scale at scanning speeds up to 11.3 m/s. This inclined linearly polarized illumination is easy to realize in a prototype of near-field photolithography system, and it opens a new cost effective approach towards the next generation lithography for nano-manufacturing.

Fuel-Free Synthetic Micro-/Nanomachines

Inspired by the swimming of natural microorganisms, synthetic micro-/nanomachines, which convert energy into movement, are able to mimic the function of these amazing natural systems and help humanity by completing environmental and biological tasks. While offering autonomous propulsion, conventional micro-/nanomachines usually rely on the decomposition of external chemical fuels (e.g., H₂ O₂ ), which greatly hinders their applications in biologically relevant media. Recent developments have resulted in various micro-/nanomotors that can be powered by biocompatible fuels. Fuel-free synthetic micro-/nanomotors, which can move without external chemical fuels, represent another attractive solution for practical applications owing to their biocompatibility and sustainability. Here, recent developments on fuel-free micro-/nanomotors (powered by various external stimuli such as light, magnetic, electric, or ultrasonic fields) are summarized, ranging from fabrication to propulsion mechanisms. The applications of these fuel-free micro-/nanomotors are also discussed, including nanopatterning, targeted drug/gene delivery, cell manipulation, and precision nanosurgery. With continuous innovation, future autonomous, intelligent and multifunctional fuel-free micro-/nanomachines are expected to have a profound impact upon diverse biomedical applications, providing unlimited opportunities beyond one's imagination.

Sub-Diffraction Limited Writing based on Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS)

Controlled fabrication of single and multiple nanostructures far below the diffraction limit using a method based on laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) is presented. In typical LIPSS, multiple lines with a certain spatial periodicity, but often not well-aligned, were produced. In this work, well-controlled and aligned nanowires and nanogrooves with widths as small as 40 nm and 60 nm with desired orientation and length are fabricated. Moreover, single nanowire and nanogroove were fabricated based on the same mechanism for forming multiple, periodic structures. Combining numerical modeling and AFM/SEM analyses, it was found these nanostructures were formed through the interference between the incident laser radiation and the surface plasmons, the mechanism for forming LIPSS on a dielectric surface using a high power femtosecond laser. We expect that our method, in particular, the fabrication of single nanowires and nanogrooves could be a promising alternative for fabrication of nanoscale devices due to its simplicity, flexibility, and versatility.

Vertically-oriented nanoparticle dimer based on focused plasmonic trapping

We proposed a vertically-oriented dimer structure based on focused plasmonic trapping of metallic nanoparticle. Quantitative FDTD calculations and qualitative analysis by simplified dipole approximation revealed that localized surface plasmon coupling dominates in the plasmon hybridization, and the vertically-oriented dimer can effectively make use of the dominant longitudinal component of the surface plasmon virtual probe thus providing much stronger electric field in the gap. Furthermore, for practical application the top nanoparticle of the dimer can be replaced with an atomic force microscope tip which enables the precise control of the gap distance of the dimer. Therefore the proposed vertically-oriented dimer structure provides both the scanning capability and the extremely-high electrical field necessary for the high sensitivity Raman imaging.

In-plane trapping and manipulation of ZnO nanowires by a hybrid plasmonic field

In general, when a semiconductor nanowire is trapped by conventional laser beam tweezers, it tends to be aligned with the trapping beam axis rather than confined in the horizontal plane, and this limits the application of these nanowires in many in-plane nanoscale optoelectronic devices. In this work, we achieve the in-plane trapping and manipulation of a single ZnO nanowire by a hybrid plasmonic tweezer system on a flat metal surface. The gap between the nanowire and the metallic substrate leads to an enhanced gradient force caused by deep subwavelength optical energy confinement. As a result, the nanowire can be securely trapped in-plane at the center of the excited surface plasmon polariton field, and can also be dynamically moved and rotated by varying the position and polarization direction of the incident laser beam, which cannot be performed using conventional optical tweezers. The theoretical results show that the focused plasmonic field induces a strong in-plane trapping force and a high rotational torque on the nanowire, while the focused optical field produces a vertical trapping force to produce the upright alignment of the nanowire; this is in good agreement with the experimental results. Finally, some typical ZnO nanowire structures are built based on this technique, which thus further confirms the potential of this method for precise manipulation of components during the production of nanoelectronic and nanophotonic devices.

Perfect narrow band absorber for sensing applications

We design and numerically investigate a perfect narrow band absorber based on a metal-metal-dielectric-metal structure which consists of periodic metallic nanoribbon arrays. The absorber presents an ultra narrow absorption band of 1.11 nm with a nearly perfect absorption of over 99.9% in the infrared region. For oblique incidence, the absorber shows an absorption more than 95% for a wide range of incident angles from 0 to 50°. Structure parameters to the influence of the performance are investigated. The structure shows high sensing performance with a high sensitivity of 1170 nm/RIU and a large figure of merit of 1054. The proposed structure has great potential as a biosensor.

Surface plasmon polariton scattering by subwavelength silicon wires

Surface plasmon polariton scattering from 2D subwavelength silicon wires is investigated using the finite-difference time-domain method. It is shown that coupling an incident surface plasmon polariton to intercavity modes of the particle can dramatically change transmitted fields and plasmon-induced forces. In particular, both transmission and optical forces are highly sensitive to the particle size that is related to the excitation of whispering gallery modes or standing wave modes depending on the particle shape and size. These features might have potential sensing applications.

Plasmonic trapping and tuning of a gold nanoparticle dimer

We demonstrate theoretically the trapping and manipulating of a gold nanoparticle dimer, using surface plasmon excited by a focused linearly-polarized laser beam on a silver film. We use both finite-difference time-domain force analysis and Maxwell stress tensor to show that the gold nanoparticle dimer can be trapped by a virtual probe pair. A formula is derived to represent the plasmonic field, suggesting that the gap between the two gold nanoparticles in the dimer can be controlled, for example, by tuning the excitation-laser wavelength. We further test our theory by successfully trapping nanoparticle dimers formed by nanospheres and nanorods. The controllable gap in between the nanoparticles can lead to tunable localized surface plasmon resonances, and this may find new exciting applications in plasmonic sensing or in lab-on-a-chip devices.

Scattering and Extinction Torques: How Plasmon Resonances Affect the Orientation Behavior of a Nanorod in Linearly Polarized Light

Linearly polarized light can exert an orienting torque on plasmonic nanorods. The torque direction has generally been considered to change when the light wavelength passes through a plasmon longitudinal resonance. Here, we use the Maxwell stress tensor to evaluate this torque in general terms. According to distinct light-matter interaction processes, the total torque is decomposed into scattering and extinction torques. The scattering torque tends to orient plasmonic nanorods parallel to the light polarization, independent of the choice of light wavelength. The direction of the extinction torque is not only closely tied to the excitation of plasmon resonance but also depends on the specific plasmon mode around which the light wavelength is tuned. Our findings show that the conventional wisdom that simply associates the total torque with the plasmon longitudinal resonances needs to be replaced with an understanding based on the different torque components and the details of spectral distribution.

Large-scale dynamic assembly of metal nanostructures in plasmofluidic field

We discuss two aspects of the plasmofluidic assembly of plasmonic nanostructures at the metal–fluid interface. First, we experimentally show how three and four spot evanescent-wave excitation can lead to unconventional assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles at the metal–fluid interface. We observed that the pattern of assembly was mainly governed by the plasmon interference pattern at the metal–fluid interface, and further led to interesting dynamic effects within the assembly. The interference patterns were corroborated by 3D finite-difference time-domain simulations. Secondly, we show how anisotropic geometry, such as Ag nanowires, can be assembled and aligned in unstructured and structured plasmofluidic fields. We found that by structuring the metal-film, Ag nanowires can be aligned at the metal–fluid interface with a single evanescent-wave excitation, thus highlighting the prospect of assembling plasmonic circuits in a fluid. An interesting aspect of our method is that we obtain the assembly at locations away from the excitation points, thus leading to remote assembly of nanostructures. The results discussed herein may have implications in realizing a platform for reconfigurable plasmonic metamaterials, and a test-bed to understand the effect of plasmon interference on assembly of nanostructures in fluids.

Mask-Free Patterning of High-Conductivity Metal Nanowires in Open Air by Spatially Modulated Femtosecond Laser Pulses

A novel high-resolution nanowire fabrication method is developed by thin-film patterning using a spatially modulated femtosecond laser pulse. Deep subwavelength (≈1/13 of the laser wavelength) and high conductivity (≈1/4 of the bulk gold) nanowires are fabricated in the open air without using masks, which offers a single-step arbitrary direct patterning approach for electronics, plasmonics, and optoelectronics nanodevices.

A Plasmonic Spanner for Metal Particle Manipulation

Typically, metal particles are difficult to manipulate with conventional optical vortex (OV) tweezers, because of their strong absorption and scattering. However, it has been shown that the vortex field of surface plasmonic polaritons, called plasmonic vortex (PV), is capable of stable trapping and dynamic rotation of metal particles, especially those of mesoscopic and Mie size. To uncover the different physical mechanisms of OV and PV tweezers, we investigated the force distribution and trapping potential of metal particles. In OV tweezers the stronger scattering force causes a positive potential barrier that repels particles, whereas in PV tweezers the dominant gradient force contributes to a negative potential well, resulting in stably trapped particles. Compared with OV, the orbital angular momentum of PV produces an azimuthal scattering force that rotates the trapped particles with more precise radius and position. Our results demonstrate that PV tweezers are superior in manipulation of metal particles.

Optical trapping and control of a dielectric nanowire by a nanoaperture

We demonstrate that a single sub-wavelength nanoaperture in a metallic thin film can be used to achieve dynamic optical trapping and control of a single dielectric nanowire. A nanoaperture can trap a nanowire, control its orientation when illuminated by a linearly polarized incident field, and rotate the nanowire when illuminated by a circularly polarized incident field. Compared to other designs, this approach has the advantage of a low-power driving field entailing low heating and photodamage.

Tunable plasmonic resonances based on elliptical annular aperture arrays on conducting substrates for advanced biosensing

Introducing a conducting metal layer and the structural asymmetry to elliptical annular aperture arrays, multiple plasmonic coupled-resonant modes are generated under normal incidence in the visible light range. The electromagnetic fields can be strongly enhanced at resonant modes in this device, which increases the interaction volume of the detected analyte and optical fields; therefore, multiple plamonic coupled modes exhibit higher refractive index sensitivity than as large as 610 nm/RIU. The distinct Fano-like resonance around a wavelength of 681 nm originates from the interference between bonding dipolar and the quadrupolar modes. Due to the excitation of sharp spectral features as narrow as 7 nm, high figure of merits of 94 at the Fano-like dip is obtained in a wide refractive index range of 1.33-1.40. Furthermore, to generate strong Fano-like resonance, the geometric shape of ellipse is selected, which is a good geometric shape candidate compared to the circle shape. This device is promising for biosensing applications with high sensitivity and low limit of detection.

Optical forces in nanoplasmonic systems: how do they work, what can they be useful for?

In this article, we share our vision for a future nanofactory, where plasmonic trapping is used to control the different manufacturing steps associated with the transformation of initial nanostructures to produce complex compounds. All the different functions existing in a traditional factory can be translated at the nanoscale using the optical forces produced by plasmonic nanostructures. A detailed knowledge of optical forces in plasmonic nanostructures is however essential to design such a nanofactory. To this end, we review the numerical techniques for computing optical forces on nanostructures immersed in a strong optical field and show under which conditions approximate solutions, like the dipole approximation, can be used in a satisfactory manner. Internal optical forces on realistic plasmonic antennas are investigated and the reconfiguration of a Fano-resonant plasmonic system using such internal forces is also studied in detail.