About this Research Topic
Among the known modes of photon-electron interaction, surface plasmons (SPs) are a special electromagnetic mode formed by the interaction between surface charge oscillations and photons in the surface of a metal. SPs have important and unique significance, especially solving a long-standing problem in previous optical research: photon regulation in the micro-nano scale. More and more studies have confirmed that in a properly designed coupling system, the SP can interact strongly with the excited dipoles in the active regions to achieve efficient light detection and light emission, including the "stimulated radiation" of SPs. To date, the behavior and basic rules of the SP itself have been thoroughly studied and are well understood. Typical structures are concentrated in nanoparticle systems, planar structure systems, and nanowires/nanopillar systems.
So far, many such plasmon coupled systems based on spontaneously radiated photons have been experimentally studied, but there is very little work considering the coherence of photons. When the excitation light source emits coherent photons, a single-type plasmon that is “simultaneously excited” within a certain distribution range can be achieved. Because of the phase correlation, the correlated resonance will not be limited to single metal particles as usual. One of major challenges is about the control of the coupling of surface plasmons with semiconductor micro/nano-structures for efficient emission and detection, as well as revealing the novel electron-photon coupling mechanism. Its application potential lies in the photoelectric integration in the micro/nano scale for ultra-fast, highly integrated and ultra-efficient information energy systems. The physical basis of the optoelectronic integration is on the new understanding of photon-electron interactions in the micro/nano scale, which will inevitably lead to new photoelectronic technology and new applications.
This Research Topic will not only focus on the basic principles of surface plasmons and nano-resonators, but also on the possible semiconductor micro/nano-structures used for micro/nano-resonators, including their structures and characteristics.
The Research Topic welcomes submissions in a list of themes including but not limited to:
• Physics giving rise to novel SP modes,
• Optoelectronics and light-matter interactions based on SP coupling,
• Novel micro/nano-structures,
• Novel optoelectronic devices, including emission and detection etc.,
• Practical applications of SP coupling.
Prof. Peng Chen holds patents related to nanostructures. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: surface plasmons, luminescence mechanism, enhanced resonant radiation and detection, coherent coupling, quantum physics
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
