Quest for zero optical loss

Funding: 2012: $120,000
2013: $100,000
2014: $100,000

Project Member(s): Cortie, M.

Funding or Partner Organisation: University of Newcastle (The University of Newcastle)
Australian Research Council (Other funds for ARC projects)
Australian Research Council (ARC Discovery Projects)

Start year: 2012

Summary: The objective of this project is to discover ways to minimize optical losses in plasmonic and meta-material nano-antennas. Nano-antennas are exciting new components that can be used in refractometric sensors, meta-material lenses, plasmonic circuitry, spectrally-selective coatings and filters, or single molecule biosensors. However, exploitation of the field is being held back by the intrinsic chemical and physical limitations of the various materials available. In particular, improvements in the corrosion resistance and the electrical conductivity at optical frequencies are needed. This project will consequently enhance prospects for technological breakthroughs in this field.

Publications:

De Silva, KSB, Keast, VJ, Gentle, A & Cortie, MB 2017, 'Optical properties and oxidation ofα-phase Ag–Al thin films', Nanotechnology, vol. 28, no. 9, pp. 095202-095202.
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Keast, VJ, Walhout, CJ, Pedersen, T, Shahcheraghi, N, Cortie, MB & Mitchell, DRG 2016, 'Higher Order Plasmonic Modes Excited in Ag Triangular Nanoplates by an Electron Beam', Plasmonics, vol. 11, no. 4, pp. 1081-1086.
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Shahcheraghi, N, Keast, VJ, Gentle, AR, Arnold, MD & Cortie, MB 2016, 'Anomalously strong plasmon resonances in aluminium bronze by modification of the electronic density-of-states', Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, vol. 28, no. 40, pp. 405501-405501.
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De Silva, KSB, Gentle, A, Arnold, M, Keast, VJ & Cortie, MB 2015, 'Dielectric function and its predicted effect on localized plasmon resonances of equiatomic Au-Cu', JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS, vol. 48, no. 21.
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Keast, VJ, Wallace, JW, Wrightson, CJ, Tai, M, Gentle, A, Arnold, MD & Cortie, MB 2015, 'The effect of vacancies on the optical properties of AuAl2', JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER, vol. 27, no. 50.
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Shahcheraghi, N, Dowd, A, Arnold, MD & Cortie, MB 2015, 'Plasmon resonances on opto-capacitive nanostructures', SPIE Proceedings, vol. 9668.
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Keast, VJ, Zwan, B, Supansomboon, S, Cortie, MB & Persson, POA 2013, 'AuAl2 and PtAl2 as potential plasmonic materials', JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS, vol. 577, no. 1, pp. 581-586.
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Keywords: plasmonicsoptical propertiesintermetallic compoundsmaterials selection

FOR Codes: Metals and Alloy Materials, Manufacturing not elsewhere classified, Physical Chemistry not elsewhere classified, Photonics, Optoelectronics and Optical Communications, Photonics, optoelectronics and optical communications, Other manufacturing not elsewhere classified

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.