Project description
Enhancing second-harmonic generation in nanoantennas
Second-harmonic generation is a nonlinear optical process with promising applications in spectroscopy, ultrafast optical switching and optical information processing. Antennas formed by metallic nanostructures enable second-harmonic generation at the nanometre scale, but with low efficiency. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PoSHGOAT project aims to optimise second-harmonic generation in these optical antennas. The project will fabricate electrically contacted nanoantennas with ultra-fine tips and ultra-narrow gaps and will apply an external potential to modulate surface charges in metallic nanoparticles. Furthermore, it will apply time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy and develop numerical models to optimise nanoparticle geometries, therefore maximising second-harmonic generation.
Objective
Second-harmonic generation (SHG) is a nonlinear optical effect, with promising applications in background-free spectroscopy, ultrafast optical switching, and optical information processing. What is missing is the integration of these effects at the nanoscale, to be sensitive down to the singe molecule level and competitive in size with silicon electronics.
Metallic nanoparticles, called optical antennas (OAs), show resonances in the infrared and optical wavelength regime. They exhibit plasmons, coupled states of photons and electron density waves, which allow concentrating light much better than conventional optics, down to 10 nm³. OAs enable SHG in nanometer-sized volumes, but until now only with low efficiency. This is due to the complex task of: (i) a resonance to receive light with wavelength A, (ii) routing the energy to the OA surface (efficient SHG due to symmetry breaking), (iii) exploiting a second antenna resonance which can gather the SHG at wavelength B=A/2, and finally (iv) emitting the wavelength B to the far field.
In the proposed project PoSHGOAT I will control and optimize SHG in OAs. To this aim, I will introduce four novelties to SHG research:
(1) Fabrication of electrically-contacted nanoantennas with ultra-fine tips (r = 3 nm) and ultra-narrow gaps (g = 3 nm) by a subsequent Ga-ion and He-ion milling procedure.
(2) Modulation of the surface charges in metallic nanoparticles by applying an external potential.
(3) Time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy of SHG with an applied voltage, eventually even with induced tunnelling of electrons in a highly asymmetric antenna gap. This will establish ultrafast control over the OA surface charge density and, thus, SHG.
(4) Numerical modelling of SHG and evolutionary optimization of nanoparticle geometries to maximize SHG in optical antennas.
All these efforts together will increase our understanding of nonlinear processes in plasmonic resonators, towards novel design rules for nonlinear plasmonic devices.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences condensed matter physics quasiparticles
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences computer and information sciences data science data processing
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
20133 Milano
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.