Abstract

We propose the idea of a subwavelength-sized light guide represented by a linear chain of spherical metal nanoparticles in which light is transmitted by electrodynamic interparticle coupling. The light-transport properties of this system are investigated by use of model calculations based on generalized Mie theory. Considering Ag particles of 50-nm diameter, we find optimum guiding conditions for an interparticle spacing of 25 nm, and a corresponding $1/e$ signal-damping length of 900 nm is evaluated. The proposed principle of optical energy transport may be useful for subwavelength transmission lines within integrated optics circuits and for near-field optical microscopy.

© 1998 Optical Society of America

Energy transport in metal nanoparticle chains via sub-radiant plasmon modes

Britain Willingham and Stephan Link
Opt. Express 19(7) 6450-6461 (2011)

Highly efficient optical coupling and transport phenomena in chains of dielectric microspheres

Zhigang Chen, Allen Taflove, and Vadim Backman
Opt. Lett. 31(3) 389-391 (2006)

Radiation losses and dark mode at light guiding by a linear chain of nanoparticles

Yurii N. Barabanenkov and Mikhail Yu. Barabanenkov
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 34(3) 321-330 (2017)

Electromagnetic energy in dispersive spheres

R. Ruppin
J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 15(2) 524-527 (1998)

Direct observation of a propagating, planar-waveguide surface mode in a discontinuous film of metal nanoparticles

Brian J. Soller and Dennis G. Hall
Opt. Lett. 25(15) 1071-1073 (2000)