FY2010 - Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Seed Money Fund—
Biosciences Division
BIOSCIENCES DIVISION
00525
Nonlinear Plasmonic Nanocircuit for Data Communications
Ali Passian
Project Description
The extraordinary plasmon coupling and photothermal effects exhibited by plasmonic nanoparticles result
from the strong photon excitation, long-range fields, field enhancement, and the availability of a decaying
channel allowing for rapid conversion of light energy into heat. We will develop a novel nonlinear singlenanoparticle
plasmonic device for optical modulation and switching with applications in biosensing and
high-speed data communications. The outcome of the work is to provide a proof of concept for an optothermo-plasmonic
nanocircuit for data modulations and communications. The work in part entails the
understanding of linear and nonlinear small-scale thermal processes and heat transport due to the optical
excitation and nonradiative decay of surface plasmons.
Mission Relevance
The project entails developing the next-generation integrated circuit that will have much higher
performance, smaller size, and lower power requirements. This is relevant to high technology applications
that depend on high performance electronics, such as nuclear security, space research, high performance
computing, and other DOE national security missions. The preliminary results, if successful, are expected
to attract funds from DOE, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, Air Force, and other defense-related agencies. These agencies have calls directly
related to the technology involved in this project. Furthermore, the project involves optoelectronics and
nanotechnology, which the National Institutes of Health considers will play important roles in cancer
research.
Results and Accomplishments
After procuring necessary materials, planning experiments, and designing apparatus, the proposed
investigations based on experiments and theoretical modeling of a single-nanoparticle optically excited
plasmonic device (nanosystem) began to produce preliminary results. Pre-experimental calculations were
carried out to determine the thickness (in cases where comparison to thin continuous films were needed),
particle size, and particle distribution of the proposed nanosystem to be fabricated, as well as polarization,
wavelength, and power of the excitation source. The experimental work has been conducted in two
phases: (1) far-field optical characterization of the collective response of many nanoparticles and (2) nearfield
optical characterization of individual nanoparticles. Optical modulation frequency and power
dependencies of the proposed nanosystem have been experimentally and theoretically studied. The results
show that thermoplasmonics can be a viable approach to achieve modulation. The results clearly show
that this effect cannot be neglected even if the ultimate desired project outcome envisioned—that is, high
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