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Abstract Light beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) in the form of optical vortices have attracted great interest due to their capability for providing a new dimension and approach to manipulate light–matter interactions. Recently, plasmonics has offered efficient ways to focus vortex beams beyond the diffraction limit. However, unlike in the visible and near‐infrared regime, it is still a big challenge to realize plasmonic vortices at far‐infrared and even longer wavelengths. An effective strategy to create deep‐subwavelength near‐field electromagnetic (EM) vortices operating in the low frequency region is proposed. Taking advantage of the asymmetric spatial distribution of EM field supported by a metallic comb‐shaped waveguide, plasmonic vortex modes that are strongly confined in a well‐designed deep‐subwavelength meta‐particle with desired topological charges can be excited. Such unique phenomena are confirmed by the microwave experiments. An equivalent physical model backed up by the numerical simulations is performed to reveal the underlying mechanism of the plasmonic vortex generation. This spoof‐plasmon assisted focusing of EM waves with OAM may find potentials for functional integrated elements and devices operating in the microwave, terahertz, and even far‐infrared regions.
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Spatially and spectrally resolved orbital angular momentum interactions in plasmonic vortex generators
Abstract Understanding the near-field electromagnetic interactions that produce optical orbital angular momentum (OAM) is crucial for integrating twisted light into nanotechnology. Here, we examine the cathodoluminescence (CL) of plasmonic vortices carrying OAM generated in spiral nanostructures. The nanospiral geometry defines a photonic local density of states that is sampled by the electron probe in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), thus accessing the optical response of the plasmonic vortex with high spatial and spectral resolution. We map the full spectral dispersion of the plasmonic vortex in spiral structures designed to yield increasing topological charge. Additionally, we fabricate nested nanospirals and demonstrate that OAM from one nanospiral can be coupled to the nested nanospiral, resulting in enhanced luminescence in concentric spirals of like handedness with respect to concentric spirals of opposite handedness. The results illustrate the potential for generating and coupling plasmonic vortices in chiral nanostructures for sensitive detection and manipulation of optical OAM.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1747426
- PAR ID:
- 10153505
- Publisher / Repository:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Light: Science & Applications
- Volume:
- 8
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2047-7538
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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