Course detail
Nanophotonics and Plasmonics
FSI-TNF-A Acad. year: 2025/2026 Winter semester
Principles of propagation of optical signals in nanostructures (e.g. devices and circuits) under diffraction limits, methods of their application. Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP) – the way, how to surpass diffraction limits. Generation, propagation and detection of SPP. Surface Plasmon Polaritons and metallic nanostructures – Plasmonics. Propagating SPP, their applications in sensorics. Localized SPP – local excitation of electromagnetic field, application in generation and detection of electromagnetic radiation, sensorics and local spectroscopy. Nanoantennas. Metamaterials and negative refraction index at optical frequencies, their application for perfect imaging.
Language of instruction
English
Number of ECTS credits
4
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
Elementary Physics, Theory of Electromagnetic Field, Quantum Physics, Solid State Physics.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
The assessment of a student is made upon his performance in practice and quality of a discussion on topics selected at the examination (lecture notes allowed at preparation).
The presence of students at practice is obligatory and is monitored by the tutor. The way how to compensate missed practice lessons will be determined by the tutor depending on the extent and content of the missed lessons.
Aims
The goal is to give an overview of the methods providing the application of electromagnetic signals in the structures with dimensions below diffraction limit, especially on plasmonics as the major part of nanophotonics.
Students will learn the current status of a new field called Nanophotonics which will also be of assistance to them for the selection of their diploma and doctoral theses.
Study aids
PWP presentations.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme N-FIN-P: Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology, Master's, compulsory-optional
Programme MPC-NCP: Chip Design and Modern Semiconductor Technologies, Master's, compulsory-optional
Type of course unit
Lecture
26 hours, optionally
Syllabus
Introduction
Nanooptics, nanofotonics and plasmonics. History of plasmonics. Research topics in plasmonics. Applicatons of plasmonics: biosensors, plasmonic antennas. Numerical simulations.
Lecture I – Electrodynamics of materials
Propagation of electromagnetic waves in metals: dielectric function and complex conductivity of materials, complex index of refraction, Kramers-Kronig relations. Examples of polariton dispersion relations: bulk photon polaritons, bulk plasmon polaritons.
Lecture II – Dielectric function of metals
Drude model. Dielectric function of real metals and interband transitions. Drude-Lorentz model, examples: gold and silver.
Lecture III – Surface plasmon polaritons (SPP)
Propagation of electromagnetic waves at metal-dielectric interfaces: Surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) – single interface, multilayer systems. Application of SPP – planar waveguides, sensors . Thin film optics and SSP.
Lecture IV – Excitation, detection and imaging of SPP
Excitation of SSP by fast electrons. Excitation and detection of SSP by light (ATR, SNOM)
Lecture V – Localized plasmon polaritons (LSP)
Interaction of em wave with nanoparticles: Mie theory of scattering and absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a sphere. Quasi-static approximation. Scattering, absorption and exctiction cross-section. Approximation to more general object shapes (including apertures and voids). Mmethods of observation of LSP, coupling between LSP. Application of LSP – resonant plasmonic antennas.
Final lecture – new and advanced topics
Fano resonance: dimers, hybridisations, dark and bright modes, Plasmon Induced Transparency, an exaple: Nanoshell and Matryoshka-nanoshell
Plasmonic nanoantennas: manufacturing of nanoantennas, mapping nanoantennas, local enhancement electromagnetic field in vicinity of metallic particles or tips and antennas – surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and tips enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), respectively, luminiscence induced by a metallic tip (STL), lithography.
Phononics: surface phonon polaritons
Strong coupling: plasmon-exciton coupling, plasmon-phonon coupling
Metamaterials and negative refraction index at optical frequencies, their application for perfect imaging.
Exercise
20 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
The calculation of supportive theoretical examples takes place during the whole semester.
Computer-assisted exercise
6 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
see seminars