2017/06/11 by Hai-Yao Deng, Deng, Hai-Yao
Engineering · Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Dust and Plasma Wave Phenomena #FOS: Physical sciences #Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) #Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1706.03404
openalex publication_date 2017/06/11 · openalex created_date 2017/06/23 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
An elementary approach is employed to show that genuine surface effects could destabilize surface plasma waves (SPWs) supported on the interface between a metal and a dielectric (usually the vacuum) and give rise to an intrinsic channel of gain for these waves. A comprehensive SPW theory is presented taking into account both the inter-band transition effects and the dielectric effects. Experimental consequences, especially in regard to the possibility of overcompensating for the energy losses suffered by SPWs, are exemplified for two common plasmonic materials: silver (Ag) and aluminum (Al). In both metals, the intrinsic channel of gain is shown having substantially reduced but insufficient to overcompensate for the losses, for different reasons. In Ag, the inter-band transition effects significantly weaken the intrinsic gain channel and make it unable to overcompensate for the losses, while in Al it is because the loss rate is too big. Nevertheless, we find it possible to enhance the intrinsic gain rate by replacing the vacuum with a moderate dielectric so that the losses can be overcompensated in Ag. This prediction is ready for experimental exploitation.