Active Plasmonics: Surface Plasmon Interaction With Optical Emitters

The interaction between surface plasmons and optical emitters is fundamentally important for engineering applications, especially surface plasmon amplification and controlled spontaneous emission. We investigate these phenomena in an active planar metal-film system comprising InGaN/GaN quantum wells and a silver film. First, we present a detailed study of the propagation and amplification of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) at visible frequencies. In doing so, we propose a multiple quantum well structure and present quantum well gain coefficient calculations accounting for SPP polarization, line broadening due to exciton damping, and particularly, the effects of finite temperature. Second, we show that the emission of an optical emitter into various channels (surface plasmons, lossy surface waves, and free radiation) can be precisely controlled by strategically positioning the emitters. Together, these could provide a range of photonic devices (for example, surface plasmon amplifiers, nanolasers, nanoemitters, plasmonic cavities) and a foundation for the study of cavity quantum electrodynamics associated with surface plasmons.