Robustly Efficient Superfocusing of Immersion Plasmonic Lenses Based on Coupled Nanoslits

We report plasmonic lenses consisting of coupled nanoslits immersed in a high-index medium to obtain the robustly efficient superfocusing. Based on the geometrical optics and the wavefront reconstruction theory, an array of nanoslits perforated in a gold film and a series of spacings between adjacent nanoslits are optimally designed to realize the desired phase modulation for light focusing. The numerical results verify the design of each plasmonic lens in excellent agreement. For the given total phase difference of 2π, the immersion plasmonic lenses with smaller lens aperture can have much better focusing performance than the non-immersion one. A superfocusing spot of λ/4.39 is achieved using an oil immersion plasmonic lens with an aperture size of 4.97λ, resulting in a resolution improvement of 68.9 % compared with the non-immersion lens. Moreover, such superfocusing performance can be still well kept when the structural parameters of the lens, e.g., nanoslit width and metal film thickness, are deviated from the original design, making the final implementation of the superfocusing lenses much easier.     

Influence of V-Shaped Metallic Subwavelength Slits with Variant Periods for Superfocusing

In this paper, we discussed the influence of a plasmonic lens with V-shaped metallic subwavelength slits and variant periods on transmission properties. In order to analyze the influence, a finite-difference time-domain numerical algorithm was adopted for computational numerical simulation of the plasmonic structures. The structures are flanked with the penetrated slits through a metal (Ag) film which is coated on a quartz substrate. Our simulation results demonstrated that different cone angles originated from the V-shaped slits generate different influences on the beam propagation. The width variation affects the intensity significantly. The cone angles formed by the V-shaped slits can change the focusing performance. These results are very encouraging for future study of the plasmonic lens-based applications.     

Polarization Effect on Superfocusing of a Plasmonic Lens Structured with Radialized and Chirped Elliptical Nanopinholes

Tuning effect of different polarization states was presented in this paper. It can be realized by a plasmonic lens constructed with elliptical pinholes ranging from submicron to nanoscales distributed in variant period along radial direction. Propagation properties of the lens illuminated under four different polarization states: linear, elliptical, radial, and cylindrical vector beam, were calculated and analyzed combining with finite-difference time-domain algorithm. Different focusing performances of the lens were illustrated while the polarized light passes through the pinholes. Our calculation results demonstrate that polarization effect of the elliptical pinholes-based plasmonic lens can generate high transmission intensity and sharp focusing for our proposed specific structures. Beam focal region, position, and transmission intensity distribution can be tailored by the four polarization states.     

Ultra-Enhanced Lasing Effect of Plasmonic Lens Structured with Elliptical Nanopinholes Distributed in Variant Periods

A plasmonic lens constructed with elliptical pinholes ranging from micron to nanoscales distributed in variant periods along the radial direction was presented. Our computational numerical calculation results demonstrated that an ultra-enhanced lasing effect exists while linear polarized plane wave illuminates and passes through the pinholes. The lasing effect can extend the longitudinal focal region and reach as long as 12 μm along the propagation direction. Benefiting from the lasing effect, depth of focus with extraordinarily elongated length (three orders of magnitude in comparison to that of the conventional microlenses) is generated accordingly. Undoubtedly, it may be helpful for practical applications such as data storage, photolithography, and bioimaging.     

Computational Study of Influence of Structuring of Plasmonic Nanolens on Superfocusing

The focusing effect of the plasmonic nanolens is studied systematically. The influence of different construction parameters including the size of the central hole, the ring width of the surrounding concentric grating, the thickness of the metal film, and the distance of the central hole to grating has been simulated by rigorous finite difference time domain method and analyzed. It is found that the intensity of the central nano-spot is linearly proportional to the size of the central hole and inversely linearly proportional to the thickness of the metal film. In addition, the intensity of the lobes can be suppressed effectively by reducing the ring width down to a quarter of plasmon wavelength to achieve a better focusing effect. The influence of the distance of central hole to grating is a little bit complex, but generally, the intensity for the distance of (2n − 1)/2 plasmon wavelength is larger than the case of the distance of nλ_SP. The simulation results can be a general guide for the design of plasmonic nanolenses.     

Experimental Investigation of Focusing of Gold Planar Plasmonic Lenses

To experimentally demonstrate the subwavelength focusing of depth-tuned or non-depth-tuned plasmonic lenses, we first designed this type of lens using diffraction-coupling-angle based method, then fabricated the structure in gold thin film with focused ion beam, and finally characterized its focusing behavior using near-field scanning optical microscope. It is found that this type of lens has a resolution limit on the focal plane due to the field represented by angular spectrum having a cut-off frequency, while at the near field the lens has sub-diffraction limit focusing capability due to the existence of high-angular-frequency components in the field.     

Experimental Study of Metallic Elliptical Nano-Pinhole Structure-Based Plasmonic Lenses

An elliptical nano-pinhole structure-based plasmonic lens was designed and investigated experimentally by means of focused ion beam nanofabrication, atomic force microscope imaging, and scanning near-field optical microscope (NSOM). Two scan modes, tip scan and sample scan, were employed, respectively, in our NSOM measurements. Both the scan modes have their characteristics while probing the plasmonic lenses. Our experimental results demonstrated that the lens can realize subwavelength focusing with elongated depth of focus. This type of lens can be used in micro-systems such as micro-opto-electrical–mechanical systems for biosensing, subwavelength imaging, and data storage.     

The Role of Polarization on 2D Plasmonic Crystals

In this paper, the polarization effects on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in azimuthally rotated 2D square lattice plasmonic crystal (PCL) are reported. By controlling the polarization angle (α) of the incoming beam, the SPR coupling strength can be fully enhanced when optimized α is used for different momentum lattice vectors (x-, y-axis and diagonal direction). This value can be obtained by adjusting the polarization angle until the deepest dip in SPR reflectivity spectrum can be observed. This will lead to a much easier way for determining the optimum surface plasmon polariton excitation condition for each crystal momentum in 2D PCL.     

Optimization on Plasmonic Lenses Based on Generation Efficiency of Surface Plasmon Polaritons at Metallic Nanoslit

The generation efficiency of surface plasmon polaritons at metallic nanoslit is theoretically analyzed, and a novel plasmonic lens with two semiannular nanoslits is proposed in this paper. Based on the analysis results, the focusing performance of the proposal is optimized with a maximum field intensity enhancement factor of 7.69 and the full width at half maximum is 132 nm (~0.2λ _i), far beyond theoretical diffraction limit. Meanwhile, some other classical plasmonic lenses are also optimized through improving generation efficiency of surface plasmon polaritons at nanoslit and the focusing performances are consequently greatly enhanced.     

Plasmonic Broadband Polarization Splitter Based on Dual-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber with Elliptical Metallic Nanowires

We design two kinds of plasmonic broadband polarization splitters based on dual-core photonic crystal fiber (DC-PCF) with elliptical Au or Ag nanowire in this paper. It is analyzed for the polarization independent characterestics of the designed DC-PCF by the finite element method (FEM). In order to excite the surface plasmon resonance (SPR), the metal Au and Ag are filled into elliptical central air hole. The resonance coupling between the fourth- or fifth-order surface plasmon modes (SPMs) and core-guided modes (CGMs) are founded by this numerical simulation. The device lengths of the designed splitters with Au nanowire are 2937 and 827 μm at the wavelength of 1.31 and 1.55 μm, respectively. As the extinction ratios are better than ?20 dB, its bandwidths are better than 94 and 103 nm. For the designed Ag nanowire splitter, the device lengths are 3066 or 809 μm at 1.31 or 1.55 μm, respectively. The bandwidths with the extinction ratio better than ?20 dB are 66 and 104 nm, respectively.     

Multi-Directional Plasmonic Splitter and Polarization Analyzer Based on the Catenary Metasurface

Owing to the unique properties of strongly confined and enhanced electric fields, surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) provide a new platform for the realization of ultracompact plasmonic circuits. However, there are challenges in coupling light into SPPs efficiently and subsequently routing SPPs. Here, we propose a multi-directional SPP splitter and polarization analyzer based on the catenary metasurface. Based on the abundant electromagnetic modes and geometric phase modulation principle of catenary structure, the device has realized high-efficiency beam splitting for four different polarization states (x-polarization, y-polarization, LCP, and RCP). The central wavelength of the device is 632 nm and the operation bandwidth can reach 70 nm (585–655 nm). Based on the phenomenon of SPP beam splitting, we present a prototype of a polarization analyzer, which can detect the polarization state of incident light by adding photodetector with light intensity logic threshold in four directions. Moreover, by combining this device with dynamic polarization modulation techniques, it is possible to be served as a router or switch in integrated photonic circuits.

     

Illumination Dependent Optical Properties of Plasmonic Nanorods Coupled to Thin-Film Cavities

The scattering spectra and intensity of gold nanorods placed at varied distances above gold films have been simulated and measured under various conditions, demonstrating that scattering characteristics of the nanorod-film system are highly dependent on illumination conditions. Studying the surrounding electric fields of nanorods reveals that the illumination-dependent properties of the system are induced by the interference in the nanorod-film system. Both simulations and experiments show that optimising the nanorod-film distance can greatly enhance scattering magnitudes up to ~20 times for certain illumination conditions. We propose an application of the studied system in facilitating photo-thermal conversion.     

An Ultra-broadband Single Polarization Filter Based on Plasmonic Photonic Crystal Fiber with a Liquid Crystal Core

Plasmonics - An ultra-broadband single polarization filter based on plasmonic photonic crystal fiber with a liquid crystal core is investigated using the full-vectorial finite element method....     

Comparison of Visual Performance of Multifocal Intraocular Lenses with Same Material Monofocal Intraocular Lenses

Purpose

To compare the visual performance of multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) and monofocal IOLs made of the same material.

Methods

The subjects included patients implanted with either Tecnis® monofocal IOLs (ZA9003 or ZCB00) or Tecnis® multifocal IOLs (ZMA00 or ZMB00) bilaterally. We conducted a retrospective study comparing the two types of IOLs. The multifocal group included 46 patients who were implanted with Tecnis® multifocal IOLs bilaterally. The monofocal group was an age- and sex-matched control group, and included 85 patients who were implanted with Tecnis® monofocal IOLs bilaterally. Lens opacity grading, the radius of corneal curvature, corneal astigmatism, axial length and the refractive status were measured preoperatively. Pupil size, ocular aberrometry, distance, intermediate and near visual acuity, contrast sensitivity with and without glare and the responses to a quality-of-vision questionnaire were evaluated pre- and postoperatively.

Results

The uncorrected near visual acuity was significantly better in the multifocal group, whereas both the corrected intermediate and near visual acuity were better in the monofocal group. Contrast sensitivity (with and without glare) was significantly better in the monofocal group. The rate of spectacle dependency was significantly lower in the multifocal group. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding most items of the postoperative quality-of-vision questionnaire (VFQ-25), with the exception that the patients in the monofocal group reported fewer problems with nighttime driving.

Conclusions

The multifocal IOLs used in this study reduced spectacle dependency more so than monofocal IOLs and did not compromise the subjective visual function, with the exception of nighttime driving.     

三硝基甲苯致晶体氧化损伤的研究

采取大鼠晶体体外培养的方法,动态观察了在三硝基甲苯作用下,晶体中脂类过氧化、维生素Ｃ含量及超氧化物歧化酶活性的改变,并与对照组进行比较。发现随着三硝基甲苯作用时间的增加,晶体中脂类过氧化增高;维生素Ｃ含量呈下降趋势;超氧化物歧化酶活性在第１天升高,第５天下降。     

Deep-subwavelength Guiding and Superfocusing of Spoof Surface Plasmon Polaritons on Helically Grooved Metal Wire

Deep-subwavelength guiding and superfocusing of spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) realized on a helically grooved metal wire at microwave frequencies are presented in this paper. Two smooth bridges with gradient helical grooves decorated on the cylindrical and conical metal wire are proposed and designed, respectively. High-efficiency and broadband mode conversion from the traditional guided waves to the SSPPs and superfocusing of SSPPs are reported. Numerical simulations quantitatively show that the amplitudes of electric field at the tip of the conical wire with gradient helical grooves can be magnified 50 times more than that of the input signal in broadband. Moreover, the second transition structure ensures that the depth of helical groove can be tuned flexibly and arbitrarily, making it compatible with all kinds of N-type coaxial connectors. Strong field concentration and superfocusing of these two structures can be easily extended to terahertz (THz) frequencies by tuning the geometrical parameters and can find important applications in sensing, spectroscopy and near-field imaging in the microwave and THz frequencies.     

Variant of ataxia-telangiectasia with low-level radiosensitivity

Summary In the present study we examined cells from several patients clinically diagnosed as having ataxia-telangiectasia (AT), for the capacity of their cells to inhibit DNA synthesis following exposure to gamma irradiation, and for the rate of spontaneous or blcomycin-induced chromosomal aberrations. Cells from two patients showed normal inhibition of DNA synthesis and levels of induced chromosomal aberrations intermediate between normal and AT cells. These two patients had only minimal immunologic impairment. These findings appear to define one distinct subset of AT.     

Influence of Anisotropy on Optical Bistability in Plasmonic Nanoparticles with Cylindrical Symmetry

In this paper, the effect of radial anisotropy on optical bistability in the cylindrical nanoshells is theoretically investigated within the quasi-static approximation. We consider two cases: when the shell is anisotropic and the core is nonlinear metal and when the core is anisotropic and the shell is a nonlinear metal. The dependence of optical bistability on the size of the nonlinear/anisotropic shell or core, the embedding medium, the anisotropy parameter, and the type of noble metals as candidates for plasmonics is studied and demonstrated. We show that by changing the type of the plasmonic metal, the switching threshold field changes can be used to design nanoparticle-based all-optical sensors. It is also shown that significant optical bistability and all-optical switching behavior can be obtained in the cylindrical nanoshells due to nonlinearity enhancement via the plasmonic structure.