title: Active quantum plasmonics.
abstract: The ability of localized surface plasmons to squeeze light and engineer nanoscale electromagnetic fields through electron-photon coupling at dimensions below the wavelength has turned plasmonics into a driving tool in a variety of technological applications, targeting novel and more efficient optoelectronic processes. In this context, the development of active control of plasmon excitations is a major fundamental and practical challenge. We propose a mechanism for fast and active control of the optical response of metallic nanostructures based on exploiting quantum effects in subnanometric plasmonic gaps. By applying an external dc bias across a narrow gap, a substantial change in the tunneling conductance across the junction can be induced at optical frequencies, which modifies the plasmonic resonances of the system in a reversible manner. We demonstrate the feasibility of the concept using time-dependent density functional theory calculations. Thus, along with two-dimensional structures, metal nanoparticle plasmonics can benefit from the reversibility, fast response time, and versatility of an active control strategy based on applied bias. The proposed electrical manipulation of light using quantum plasmonics establishes a new platform for many practical applications in optoelectronics.
authors.affiliation: Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, UMR 8214, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 351, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Dana Codruta
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6801-8774
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Marinica
authors.affiliation: Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, UMR 8214, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 351, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.; Materials Physics Center, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea and Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.; Departamento de Física, Universidad de los Andes, 111711 Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: MS61, Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Department of Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1633-2937
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordlander
authors.affiliation: Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, E-48011 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrey K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3220-0299
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kazansky
authors.affiliation: Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: M Echenique
authors.affiliation: Materials Physics Center, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea and Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aizpurua
authors.affiliation: Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, UMR 8214, CNRS, Université Paris Sud, Bâtiment 351, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Andrei G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Borisov
keywords: Physics; Plasmonics; Quantum plasmonics; applied optoelectronics
references.citation: J Am Chem Soc. 2009 Oct 21;131(41):14664-6
references.pmid: 19824726
references.citation: Science. 2014 Mar 28;343(6178):1496-9
references.pmid: 24675958
references.citation: Chem Soc Rev. 2014 Jun 7;43(11):3898-907
references.pmid: 24549257
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2014 Nov 12;14(11):6651-4
references.pmid: 25322471
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2009 Feb;9(2):887-91
references.pmid: 19159319
references.citation: Faraday Discuss. 2015;178:151-83
references.pmid: 25739465
references.citation: J Chem Phys. 2004 Feb 15;120(7):3387-96
references.pmid: 15268494
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2011 Aug 10;11(8):3370-7
references.pmid: 21766812
references.citation: Nature. 2012 Nov 22;491(7425):574-7
references.pmid: 23135399
references.citation: Opt Express. 2013 Nov 4;21(22):27306-25
references.pmid: 24216954
references.citation: Adv Mater. 2011 Oct 11;23(38):4422-30
references.pmid: 21960478
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2012 Mar 14;12(3):1333-9
references.pmid: 22320125
references.citation: Phys Rev Lett. 1995 Feb 27;74(9):1558-1561
references.pmid: 10059059
references.citation: Opt Express. 2013 Jan 28;21(2):1633-8
references.pmid: 23389148
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2009 Feb;9(2):819-25
references.pmid: 19119869
references.citation: J Chem Phys. 2005 Aug 8;123(6):62206
references.pmid: 16122292
references.citation: Rep Prog Phys. 2012 Mar;75(3):036501
references.pmid: 22790420
references.citation: Phys Rev Lett. 2015 Mar 27;114(12):126803
references.pmid: 25860766
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2013;13(12):5873-9
references.pmid: 24205800
references.citation: Science. 2005 Jun 10;308(5728):1607-9
references.pmid: 15947182
references.citation: Nature. 2007 Nov 15;450(7168):402-6
references.pmid: 18004381
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2013 Feb 13;13(2):564-9
references.pmid: 23245286
references.citation: Nat Nanotechnol. 2010 Oct;5(10):732-6
references.pmid: 20852641
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2015 May 13;15(5):3410-9
references.pmid: 25915173
references.citation: Opt Express. 2015 Mar 23;23(6):8134-49
references.pmid: 25837151
references.citation: Adv Mater. 2010 Dec 1;22(45):5173-7
references.pmid: 20938996
references.citation: Nat Commun. 2012 May 08;3:825
references.pmid: 22569369
references.citation: Chem Rev. 2006 Oct;106(10):4160-206
references.pmid: 17031983
references.citation: Nat Mater. 2010 Mar;9(3):193-204
references.pmid: 20168343
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2012 Mar 14;12(3):1247-52
references.pmid: 22313237
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2010 Aug 11;10(8):3090-5
references.pmid: 20698622
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2009 Jul;9(7):2671-5
references.pmid: 19499901
references.citation: Nat Commun. 2014 Oct 14;5:5228
references.pmid: 25311008
references.citation: Nat Mater. 2008 Jun;7(6):442-53
references.pmid: 18497851
references.citation: Annu Rev Phys Chem. 2004;55:427-55
references.pmid: 15117259
references.citation: Nano Lett. 2014 May 14;14(5):2330-8
references.pmid: 24697629