Chapter 13
Spinoptics in Plasmonics
Erez Hasman and Vladimir Kleiner
Abstract We review our work on effects of spin-symmetry breaking in nanoscale
structures caused by spin-orbit interaction. The spin-based effects offer an unprecedented ability to control light and its polarization state in nanometer-scale optical
devices, thereby facilitating a variety of applications related to nano-photonics. The
polarization-dependent effects are considered as result of a geometric phase arising from the interaction of light with an anisotropic and inhomogeneous nanoscale
structure. The discussed phenomena inspire one to investigate other spin-based plasmonic effects and to propose a new generation of optical elements for nano-photonic
applications, as a constituent of a new branch in optics—spinoptics.
Keywords Plasmon · Spin-orbit interaction · Spinoptics
13.1 Introduction
The interaction of light with metallic subwavelength structures exhibits various
anomalous effects such as extraordinary optical transmission [1] and beaming [2].
These effects have been elegantly explained by a mechanism involving the coupling of light to collective surface-confined electronic oscillations known as surface
plasmon-polaritons (SPPs). Extensive research has been carried out in the field of
electromagnetic surface waves due to its technological potential and fundamental
implications. Additional exciting phenomena were studied such as unidirectional
plasmon coupling [3], plasmon focusing [4, 5], waveguiding and interferometry
E. Hasman (B) · V. Kleiner
Micro and Nanooptics Laboratory, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and Russell Berrie
Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000 Haifa, Israel
e-mail: mehasman@technion.ac.il
V. Kleiner
e-mail: vkleiner@technion.ac.il
T. V. Shahbazyan and M. I. Stockman (eds.), Plasmonics: Theory and Applications,
463
Challenges and Advances in Computational Chemistry and Physics 15,
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7805-4_13, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
Spinoptics in Plasmonics
Erez Hasman and Vladimir Kleiner
Abstract We review our work on effects of spin-symmetry breaking in nanoscale
structures caused by spin-orbit interaction. The spin-based effects offer an unprecedented ability to control light and its polarization state in nanometer-scale optical
devices, thereby facilitating a variety of applications related to nano-photonics. The
polarization-dependent effects are considered as result of a geometric phase arising from the interaction of light with an anisotropic and inhomogeneous nanoscale
structure. The discussed phenomena inspire one to investigate other spin-based plasmonic effects and to propose a new generation of optical elements for nano-photonic
applications, as a constituent of a new branch in optics—spinoptics.
Keywords Plasmon · Spin-orbit interaction · Spinoptics
13.1 Introduction
The interaction of light with metallic subwavelength structures exhibits various
anomalous effects such as extraordinary optical transmission [1] and beaming [2].
These effects have been elegantly explained by a mechanism involving the coupling of light to collective surface-confined electronic oscillations known as surface
plasmon-polaritons (SPPs). Extensive research has been carried out in the field of
electromagnetic surface waves due to its technological potential and fundamental
implications. Additional exciting phenomena were studied such as unidirectional
plasmon coupling [3], plasmon focusing [4, 5], waveguiding and interferometry
E. Hasman (B) · V. Kleiner
Micro and Nanooptics Laboratory, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and Russell Berrie
Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, 32000 Haifa, Israel
e-mail: mehasman@technion.ac.il
V. Kleiner
e-mail: vkleiner@technion.ac.il
T. V. Shahbazyan and M. I. Stockman (eds.), Plasmonics: Theory and Applications,
463
Challenges and Advances in Computational Chemistry and Physics 15,
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-7805-4_13, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013