Nanophotonics Quiz: Testing Your Knowledge on Nanoscale Light Manipulation

A nanophotonic waveguide is designed to guide and control the propagation of light on a nanoscale. These waveguides are typically made of materials with high refractive indices to confine light within a small volume. By manipulating waveguide geometry and properties, nanophotonic waveguides enable efficient light routing for various applications in nanoscale photonic circuits and devices.

Nanophotonics is the field of science and technology that focuses on the manipulation of light on a nanoscale. It involves designing and controlling structures and devices at the nanometer scale to control light at the nanoscale.

Plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy involves utilizing plasmons to enhance the intensity of spectroscopic signals. Plasmons can significantly increase the electromagnetic field near metallic nanostructures, enhancing light-matter interactions. This enhanced interaction allows for more sensitive and selective measurements, leading to improved spectroscopic analysis in areas like chemical sensing, bioimaging, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing involves detecting changes in the refractive index of a medium using plasmonics. When a target molecule binds to a metallic surface covered with a thin layer of analyte, refractive index changes near the surface cause a shift in SPR. This shift can be measured to determine binding events, making SPR sensing a valuable technique for label-free molecular detection and biomedical applications.

A photonic crystal is a periodic structure with a refractive index that varies in space. This structure can confine light and control its propagation through the inclusion of defects, bandgaps, and other design elements. By manipulating these properties, photonic crystals enable precise control over nanoscale light propagation and confinement.

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) refers to the enhancement of light-matter interaction in a nanoscale region. Metallic nanoparticles can exhibit LSPR due to the collective electron oscillations driven by incident light. LSPR enables significant enhancement in light absorption, scattering, and field confinement at the nanoscale, leading to various applications like biosensing, photovoltaics, and optoelectronics.

Near-field optical microscopy (NSOM) is a technique that enables visualization and characterization of surface features at nanoscale resolution. It utilizes a tiny aperture or probe to interact with the electromagnetic field near a sample surface, allowing highly localized optical measurements beyond the diffraction limit. NSOM provides valuable insights into nanoscale light-matter interactions, surface plasmons, and photonic device performance.

A plasmon is a collective oscillation of electrons in a metallic structure. When light interacts with these electrons, it can create resonant oscillations known as surface plasmons. These surface plasmons can confine light to subwavelength dimensions, enabling nanoscale light manipulation.

A metamaterial is a material engineered to have properties not found in nature. In nanophotonics, metamaterials are specifically designed to interact with light in unique ways. By arranging subwavelength-scale structures, metamaterials can manipulate the behavior of light, such as bending it backward or achieving negative refractive index. These properties enable extraordinary control over nanoscale light manipulation.

A plasmon polariton is a hybrid quasiparticle resulting from the coupling of plasmons with photons. It represents a collective excitation of both electromagnetic waves and electron oscillations. Plasmon polaritons possess unique properties that enable subwavelength light confinement and propagation, allowing for efficient transmission and control of light at the nanoscale.