Maxim Durach
Georgia Southern University, USA
Title: From photons to plasmons to electrons and atoms: conservation helps engineer interactions on the nanoscale
Biography
Biography: Maxim Durach
Abstract
Recently there has been a surge of interest to transformation of properties of light by nanostructures, mechanical effects of optical forces on nanoscale and plasmon-induced electric effects in nanostructured metal. Consideration of these effects from the perspective of physical conservation laws brings integration into these fields, sheds new light on fundamental aspects of light-matter interaction, and provides the groundwork for future nanoscale engineering. Metal nanostructures have the ability to transform the linear, spin angular, and orbital angular momenta of light. In doing this metal absorbs the momentum, first distributing it over the conduction electrons, creating non-equilibrium distribution of hot-electrons and rectified electrical currents, a phenomenon known as Plasmonic Drag Effect (PLDE). Then from the electrons into the crystal lattice, coming into thermal equilibrium and inducing mechanical motion of the nanostructure. The multi-disciplinary consideration of these effects from point of view of photonics, quantum plasmonics and hot-electron kinetics translates into several proposed applications including such novel optical components as ultimately thin nanoscopic waveplates. This also will lead to optoelectronic components, e.g. new-generation of plasmon drag biosensors and detectors, electro-plasmonic transformers for nanoscopic ultrafast circuits, and optomechanical elements such as optical torque wrench.