title: Laser propulsion of nanobullets by adiabatic compression of surface plasmon polaritons.
abstract: Laser propulsion and guide of nanosized objects is fundamental for a wide number of applications. These applications are often limited by the fact that the optical forces acting on nanoparticles are almost negligible even in the favorable case of metallic particles and hence large laser powers are needed to accelerate and guide nanosize devices in practical applications. Furthermore, metallic nanoparticles exhibit strong absorption bands and scattering and this makes more difficult controlling nanopropulsion. Thus, finding some mechanism enhancing the optomechanical interaction at the nanoscale controlled by laser is specifically challenging and pivotal. Here, we demonstrate a novel physical effect where the well-known adiabatic localization of the enhanced plasmonic surface field on the apex of metallic nanocones produces a significant optical pressure employable as a propulsive mechanism. The proposed method gives the possibility to develop new photonics devices to accelerate metallic nanobullets over long distances for a variety of applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.|IPCF-CNR, UOS Roma Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.|Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Life Nano Science Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Folli
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.|Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Life Nano Science Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.|ISC-CNR, UOS Roma Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conti