title: Toward Surface Plasmon-Enhanced Optical Parametric Amplification (SPOPA) with Engineered Nanoparticles: A Nanoscale Tunable Infrared Source.
abstract: Active optical processes such as amplification and stimulated emission promise to play just as important a role in nanoscale optics as they have in mainstream modern optics. The ability of metallic nanostructures to enhance optical nonlinearities at the nanoscale has been shown for a number of nonlinear and active processes; however, one important process yet to be seen is optical parametric amplification. Here, we report the demonstration of surface plasmon-enhanced difference frequency generation by integration of a nonlinear optical medium, BaTiO3, in nanocrystalline form within a plasmonic nanocavity. These nanoengineered composite structures support resonances at pump, signal, and idler frequencies, providing large enhancements of the confined fields and efficient coupling of the wavelength-converted idler radiation to the far-field. This nanocomplex works as a nanoscale tunable infrared light source and paves the way for the design and fabrication of a surface plasmon-enhanced optical parametric amplifier.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, United States.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manjavacas
authors.forename: Nathaniel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: Linan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ciceron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ayala-Orozco
authors.forename: Liangliang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Jared K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordlander
authors.forename: Naomi J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Halas
keywords: Plasmons; difference-frequency generation; nanoparticles; nonlinear optics