Chapter 9
Aperiodic Order in Nanoplasmonics
Luca Dal Negro, Carlo Forestiere, Nathaniel Lawrence, Sylvanus Lee, Jacob
Trevino and Gary Walsh
Abstract In this chapter, we review our work on the engineering of aperiodic order
for nanoplasmonics device applications. In particular, we discuss the optical response
of arrays of metallic nanoparticles with Fourier spectral features that interpolate in a
tunable fashion between periodic crystals and disordered random media, referred to
as Deterministic Aperiodic Nano Structures (DANS). These plasmonic structures,
conceived by designing spatial frequencies in aperiodic Fourier space, give rise to
characteristic scattering resonances and localized mode patterns enhancing the intensity of optical near fields over planar surfaces and broad frequency spectra. Moreover,
the distinctive interplay between photonic diffraction and near field plasmonic localization in DANS provides novel opportunities to manipulate light-matter interactions
on the nanoscale for device applications to optical biosensing, plasmon-enhanced
light sources, solar cells, nonlinear frequency generation, and singular optics.
Keywords Surface plasmon · Aperiodic order · Quasiperiodic arrays
Order is not sufficient. What is required, is something much
more complex. It is order entering upon novelty, so that the
massiveness of order does not degenerate into mere repetition.
Alfred North Whitehead, Gifford lectures, 1927–1928
L. D. Negro (B) · C. Forestiere · N. Lawrence · S. Lee · J. Trevino · G. Walsh
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University Photonics Center,
Boston University, 8 Saint Mary’s street, Boston, MA 02215, USA
e-mail: dalnegro@bu.edu
G. Walsh
Nanomaterials Science Team, U.S. Army NSRDEC, Kansas Street, Natic, MA 01760, USA
T. V. Shahbazyan and M. I. Stockman (eds.), Plasmonics: Theory and Applications,
329
Challenges and Advances in Computational Chemistry and Physics 15,
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7805-4_9, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
Aperiodic Order in Nanoplasmonics
Luca Dal Negro, Carlo Forestiere, Nathaniel Lawrence, Sylvanus Lee, Jacob
Trevino and Gary Walsh
Abstract In this chapter, we review our work on the engineering of aperiodic order
for nanoplasmonics device applications. In particular, we discuss the optical response
of arrays of metallic nanoparticles with Fourier spectral features that interpolate in a
tunable fashion between periodic crystals and disordered random media, referred to
as Deterministic Aperiodic Nano Structures (DANS). These plasmonic structures,
conceived by designing spatial frequencies in aperiodic Fourier space, give rise to
characteristic scattering resonances and localized mode patterns enhancing the intensity of optical near fields over planar surfaces and broad frequency spectra. Moreover,
the distinctive interplay between photonic diffraction and near field plasmonic localization in DANS provides novel opportunities to manipulate light-matter interactions
on the nanoscale for device applications to optical biosensing, plasmon-enhanced
light sources, solar cells, nonlinear frequency generation, and singular optics.
Keywords Surface plasmon · Aperiodic order · Quasiperiodic arrays
Order is not sufficient. What is required, is something much
more complex. It is order entering upon novelty, so that the
massiveness of order does not degenerate into mere repetition.
Alfred North Whitehead, Gifford lectures, 1927–1928
L. D. Negro (B) · C. Forestiere · N. Lawrence · S. Lee · J. Trevino · G. Walsh
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University Photonics Center,
Boston University, 8 Saint Mary’s street, Boston, MA 02215, USA
e-mail: dalnegro@bu.edu
G. Walsh
Nanomaterials Science Team, U.S. Army NSRDEC, Kansas Street, Natic, MA 01760, USA
T. V. Shahbazyan and M. I. Stockman (eds.), Plasmonics: Theory and Applications,
329
Challenges and Advances in Computational Chemistry and Physics 15,
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7805-4_9, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013