Project description
The bigger the interaction, the smaller and more interesting the device
Enhancing or amplifying the interactions of polarised electromagnetic radiation with magnetic materials, so-called magneto-optical (MO) effects, is a prerequisite to reducing the size of certain photonic devices and for active nanophotonic devices. Using dipolar plasmonic resonances in magnetic nanoantennas is one way to enhance MO effects. Currently, the maximum amplification possible is insufficient and intrinsically limited by the amplification process reliant on dipolar plasmons. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MANACOLIPO project is exploring a recently proposed method relying on hybrid magnetoplasmonic nanocavities to overcome this intrinsic limitation and enable an unprecedented amplification of MO effects.
Objective
Enhancing magneto-optical (MO) effects is crucial for the size reduction of key photonic devices based on non-reciprocal propagation of light and for active nanophotonics. Magnetoplasmonics merges the concepts from plasmonics and magneto-optics to achieve an enhancement of MO effects by using dipolar plasmonic resonances in magnetic nanoantennas. However, the achievable MO enhancement is still too small for practical applications due to two limiting factors: the low Q-factor of the dipolar plasmon resonances in metallic nanostructures and their bright nature that enhances the radiation of light with the original incident polarization, thereby reducing the polarization change induced by the plasmon-assisted MO amplification. Very recently, the new conceptual path of hybridization of dipolar plasmon modes with multipolar dark modes using hybrid magnetoplasmonic nanocavities was proposed as a way to overcome both the above-mentioned limitations. This project will explore this new conceptual path, which was proposed by the Supervisor in a proof-of-concept work, to devise advanced approaches to harness the hybridization of multipolar dark modes with bright modes and achieve an unprecedented enhancement of MO effects. To this purpose, new types of nanocavities are proposed and will be fabricated and studied in this project. The new approaches and devices developed in this project will contribute to achieving a deeper understanding of the nanoscale light-matter interactions and are likely to have a huge impact on forthcoming photonic nanotechnologies for active manipulation of light polarization. By tackling novel and relevant challenges in modern nanophotonics, this project represents a unique platform for the training of the applicant, who has an established fundamental background that will be complemented with an interdisciplinary and technology-related research profile enhancing his competence and decisively support him in attaining a leading independent position.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
20018 San Sebastian
Spain