Editorial

3 pages, 156 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue: New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials

by Shinpei Ogawa and Masafumi Kimata

Materials 2020, 13(7), 1756; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13071756 - 09 Apr 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1372

Plasmonics and metamaterials are growing fields that consistently produce new technologies for controlling electromagnetic waves. Many important advances in both fundamental knowledge and practical applications have been achieved in conjunction with a wide range of materials, structures and wavelengths, from the ultraviolet to [...] Read more.

Plasmonics and metamaterials are growing fields that consistently produce new technologies for controlling electromagnetic waves. Many important advances in both fundamental knowledge and practical applications have been achieved in conjunction with a wide range of materials, structures and wavelengths, from the ultraviolet to the microwave regions of the spectrum. In addition to this remarkable progress across many different fields, much of this research shares many of the same underlying principles, and so significant synergy is expected. This Special Issue introduces the recent advances in plasmonics and metamaterials and discusses various applications, while addressing a wide range of topics in order to explore the new horizons emerging for such research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

Research

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11 pages, 2071 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Elimination of Unwanted Modes in Wavelength-Selective Uncooled Infrared Sensors with Plasmonic Metamaterial Absorbers using a Subtraction Operation

by Shinpei Ogawa, Yousuke Takagawa and Masafumi Kimata

Materials 2019, 12(19), 3157; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12193157 - 27 Sep 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2148

Abstract

Wavelength- or polarization-selective uncooled infrared (IR) sensors have various applications, such as in fire detection, gas analysis, hazardous material recognition, biological analysis, and polarimetric imaging. The unwanted modes originating due to the absorption by the materials used in these sensors, other than plasmonic [...] Read more.

Wavelength- or polarization-selective uncooled infrared (IR) sensors have various applications, such as in fire detection, gas analysis, hazardous material recognition, biological analysis, and polarimetric imaging. The unwanted modes originating due to the absorption by the materials used in these sensors, other than plasmonic metamaterial absorbers (PMAs), cause serious issues by degenerating the wavelength or polarization selectivity. In this study, we demonstrate a method for eliminating these unwanted modes in wavelength- or polarization-selective uncooled IR sensors with various PMAs, using a subtraction operation and a reference pixel. The aforementioned sensors and the reference pixels were fabricated using a complementary metal oxide semiconductor and micromachining techniques. We fabricated the reference pixel with the same structure as the PMA sensors, except a flat mirror was formed on the absorber surface instead of PMAs. The spectral responsivity measurements demonstrated that single-mode detection can be achieved through the subtraction operation with the reference pixel. The method demonstrated in this study can be applied to any type of uncooled IR sensors to create high-performance wavelength- or polarization-selective absorbers capable of multispectral or polarimetric detection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

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10 pages, 19374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dual-Band Transmissive Cross-Polarization Converter with Extremely High Polarization Conversion Ratio Using Transmitarray

by Jianxing Li, Jialin Feng, Bo Li, Hongyu Shi, Anxue Zhang and Juan Chen

Materials 2019, 12(11), 1827; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12111827 - 05 Jun 2019

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2972

Abstract

In this paper, a dual-band cross-polarization converter is proposed. The proposed device can convert linearly polarized incident waves to their cross-polarized transmitted waves. Inspired by the aperture coupled transmitarray, a transmissive multi-layered unit cell structure was designed, which can operate in two frequency [...] Read more.

In this paper, a dual-band cross-polarization converter is proposed. The proposed device can convert linearly polarized incident waves to their cross-polarized transmitted waves. Inspired by the aperture coupled transmitarray, a transmissive multi-layered unit cell structure was designed, which can operate in two frequency bands. The designed structure can manipulate the polarization of the transmitted wave into the cross-polarization of the incident waves at 10.36 GHz and 11.62 GHz. The cross-polarized transmittance of the proposed cross-polarization converter is higher than 0.93. In addition, the transmitted wave has an extremely low co-polarized component, which results in a nearly 100% polarization conversion ratio. The two working frequencies can be tuned independently. The proposed cross-polarization converter was simulated, fabricated and measured. The simulation results confirm with the measurement results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

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13 pages, 4446 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High-Efficiency and Wide-Angle Versatile Polarization Controller Based on Metagratings

by Kun Song, Ruonan Ji, Duman Shrestha, Changlin Ding, Yahong Liu, Weiren Zhu, Wentao He, Huidong Liu, Yuhua Guo, Yongkang Tang, Xiaopeng Zhao and Jiangfeng Zhou

Materials 2019, 12(4), 623; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12040623 - 19 Feb 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3027

Abstract

Metamaterials with their customized properties enable us to efficiently manipulate the polarization states of electromagnetic waves with flexible approaches, which is of great significance in various realms. However, most current metamaterial-based polarization controllers can only realize single function, which has extremely hindered the [...] Read more.

Metamaterials with their customized properties enable us to efficiently manipulate the polarization states of electromagnetic waves with flexible approaches, which is of great significance in various realms. However, most current metamaterial-based polarization controllers can only realize single function, which has extremely hindered the expansion of their applications. Here, we experimentally demonstrate highly efficient and multifunctional polarization conversion effects using metagrating by integrating single-structure metallic meta-atoms into the dielectric gratings. Benefiting from the combined advantages of the gratings and the metamaterials, the considered metagrating can operate in transmission and reflection modes simultaneously, acting as a high-performance and wide-angle quarter-wave or half-wave plate with distinct functions in different frequency bands. This metagrating structure is scalable to other frequency ranges and may provide opportunities to design compact multifunctional optical polarization control devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

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15 pages, 5377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soft and Stiff Simplex Tensegrity Lattices as Extreme Smart Metamaterials

by Anna Al Sabouni-Zawadzka and Wojciech Gilewski

Materials 2019, 12(1), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12010187 - 08 Jan 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4322

Abstract

The present paper is dedicated to an evaluation of novel cellular metamaterials based on a tensegrity pattern. The materials are constructed from supercells, each of which consists of a number of simplex modules with different geometrical proportions. Mechanical properties of the metamaterial can [...] Read more.

The present paper is dedicated to an evaluation of novel cellular metamaterials based on a tensegrity pattern. The materials are constructed from supercells, each of which consists of a number of simplex modules with different geometrical proportions. Mechanical properties of the metamaterial can be controlled by adjusting the level of self-equilibrated forces or by changing the properties of structural members. A continuum model based on the equivalence of strain energy of the 3D theory of elasticity with a discrete formulation is used to identify the qualitative properties of the considered metamaterials. The model allows the inclusion of nonlinearities related to the equations of equilibrium in actual configuration of the structure with self-equilibrated set of normal forces typical for tensegrities. The lattices are recognised as extreme metamaterials according to the eigensolution of the equivalent elasticity matrices of the continuum model. The six representative deformation modes are defined and discussed: stiff, soft and medium extensional modes and high (double) as well as low shear modes. The lattices are identified as unimode or nearly bimode according to the classification of extreme materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

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10 pages, 4151 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transparent Metasurface for Generating Microwave Vortex Beams with Cross-Polarization Conversion

by Hongyu Shi, Luyi Wang, Mengran Zhao, Juan Chen, Anxue Zhang and Zhuo Xu

Materials 2018, 11(12), 2448; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11122448 - 03 Dec 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3373

Abstract

In this paper, metasurfaces with both cross-polarization conversion and vortex beam-generating are proposed. The proposed finite metasurface designs are able to change the polarization of incident electromagnetic (EM) waves to its cross-polarization. In addition, they also can modulate the incidences into beams carrying [...] Read more.

In this paper, metasurfaces with both cross-polarization conversion and vortex beam-generating are proposed. The proposed finite metasurface designs are able to change the polarization of incident electromagnetic (EM) waves to its cross-polarization. In addition, they also can modulate the incidences into beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) with different orders (

l = + 1, l = + 2, l = - 1

and

l = - 2

) by applying corresponding transmission phase distribution schemes on the metasurface aperture. The generated vortex beams are at 5.14 GHz. The transmission loss is lower than 0.5 dB while the co-polarization level is −10 dB compared to the cross-polarization level. The measurement results confirmed the simulation results and verified the properties of the proposed designs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

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11 pages, 4178 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Miniature Spectroscopes with Two-Dimensional Guided-Mode Resonant Metal Grating Filters Integrated on a Photodiode Array

by Yoshiaki Kanamori, Daisuke Ema and Kazuhiro Hane

Materials 2018, 11(10), 1924; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11101924 - 10 Oct 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4794

Abstract

A small spectroscope with 25 color sensors was fabricated by combining metamaterial color filters and Si photodiodes. The metamaterial color filters consisted of guided-mode resonant metal gratings with subwavelength two-dimensional periodic structures. Transmittance characteristics of the color filters were designed to obtain peak [...] Read more.

A small spectroscope with 25 color sensors was fabricated by combining metamaterial color filters and Si photodiodes. The metamaterial color filters consisted of guided-mode resonant metal gratings with subwavelength two-dimensional periodic structures. Transmittance characteristics of the color filters were designed to obtain peak wavelengths proportional to grating periods. For each color sensor, a peak wavelength of the spectral sensitivity could be tuned in the range of visible wavelengths by adjusting each grating period. By performing spectrum reconstruction using Tikhonov regularization, the spectrum of an incident light was obtained from the signal of photodiodes. Several monochromatic lights were made incident on the fabricated device and the spectral characteristics of the incident light were reconstructed from the output signals obtained from the respective color sensors. The peak wavelengths of the reconstructed spectra were in good agreement with the center wavelengths of the monochromatic lights. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

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10 pages, 2299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Independently Tunable Fano Resonances Based on the Coupled Hetero-Cavities in a Plasmonic MIM System

by Qiong Wang, Zhengbiao Ouyang, Mi Lin and Qiang Liu

Materials 2018, 11(9), 1675; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11091675 - 10 Sep 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3312

Abstract

In this paper, based on coupled hetero-cavities, multiple Fano resonances are produced and tuned in a plasmonic metal-insulator-metal (MIM) system. The structure comprises a rectangular cavity, a side-coupled waveguide, and an upper-coupled circular cavity with a metal-strip core, used to modulate Fano resonances. [...] Read more.

In this paper, based on coupled hetero-cavities, multiple Fano resonances are produced and tuned in a plasmonic metal-insulator-metal (MIM) system. The structure comprises a rectangular cavity, a side-coupled waveguide, and an upper-coupled circular cavity with a metal-strip core, used to modulate Fano resonances. Three Fano resonances can be realized, which originate from interference of the cavity modes between the rectangular cavity and the metal-strip-core circular cavity. Due to the different cavity-cavity coupling mechanisms, the three Fano resonances can be divided into two groups, and each group of Fano resonances can be well tuned independently by changing the different cavity parameters, which can allow great flexibility to control multiple Fano resonances in practice. Furthermore, through carefully adjusting the direction angle of the metal-strip core in the circular cavity, the position and lineshape of the Fano resonances can be easily tuned. Notably, reversal asymmetry takes place for one of the Fano resonances. The influence of the direction angle on the figure of merit (FOM) value is also investigated. A maximum FOM of 3436 is obtained. The proposed structure has high transmission, sharp Fano lineshape, and high sensitivity to change in the background refractive index. This research provides effective guidance to tune multiple Fano resonances, which has important applications in nanosensors, filters, modulators, and other related plasmonic devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

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12 pages, 2975 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Active Enhancement of Slow Light Based on Plasmon-Induced Transparency with Gain Materials

by Zhaojian Zhang, Junbo Yang, Xin He, Yunxin Han, Jingjing Zhang, Jie Huang, Dingbo Chen and Siyu Xu

Materials 2018, 11(6), 941; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11060941 - 03 Jun 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3575

Abstract

As a plasmonic analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) has drawn more attention due to its potential of realizing on-chip sensing, slow light and nonlinear effect enhancement. However, the performance of a plasmonic system is always limited by the metal [...] Read more.

As a plasmonic analogue of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) has drawn more attention due to its potential of realizing on-chip sensing, slow light and nonlinear effect enhancement. However, the performance of a plasmonic system is always limited by the metal ohmic loss. Here, we numerically report a PIT system with gain materials based on plasmonic metal-insulator-metal waveguide. The corresponding phenomenon can be theoretically analyzed by coupled mode theory (CMT). After filling gain material into a disk cavity, the system intrinsic loss can be compensated by external pump beam, and the PIT can be greatly fueled to achieve a dramatic enhancement of slow light performance. Finally, a double-channel enhanced slow light is introduced by adding a second gain disk cavity. This work paves way for a potential new high-performance slow light device, which can have significant applications for high-compact plasmonic circuits and optical communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

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Review

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18 pages, 7036 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Metal-Insulator-Metal-Based Plasmonic Metamaterial Absorbers at Visible and Infrared Wavelengths: A Review

by Shinpei Ogawa and Masafumi Kimata

Materials 2018, 11(3), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma11030458 - 20 Mar 2018

Cited by 149 | Viewed by 16127

Abstract

Electromagnetic wave absorbers have been investigated for many years with the aim of achieving high absorbance and tunability of both the absorption wavelength and the operation mode by geometrical control, small and thin absorber volume, and simple fabrication. There is particular interest in [...] Read more.

Electromagnetic wave absorbers have been investigated for many years with the aim of achieving high absorbance and tunability of both the absorption wavelength and the operation mode by geometrical control, small and thin absorber volume, and simple fabrication. There is particular interest in metal-insulator-metal-based plasmonic metamaterial absorbers (MIM-PMAs) due to their complete fulfillment of these demands. MIM-PMAs consist of top periodic micropatches, a middle dielectric layer, and a bottom reflector layer to generate strong localized surface plasmon resonance at absorption wavelengths. In particular, in the visible and infrared (IR) wavelength regions, a wide range of applications is expected, such as solar cells, refractive index sensors, optical camouflage, cloaking, optical switches, color pixels, thermal IR sensors, IR microscopy and gas sensing. The promising properties of MIM-PMAs are attributed to the simple plasmonic resonance localized at the top micropatch resonators formed by the MIMs. Here, various types of MIM-PMAs are reviewed in terms of their historical background, basic physics, operation mode design, and future challenges to clarify their underlying basic design principles and introduce various applications. The principles presented in this review paper can be applied to other wavelength regions such as the ultraviolet, terahertz, and microwave regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Horizon of Plasmonics and Metamaterials)

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