Nano-Structures for Optics and Photonics

Title: Nano-Structures for Optics and Photonics

SPS Reference: G4482  

Abstract: Nanotechnology, by taking advantage of the special properties of nano-scale matter, imitates nature that designs its structures at the molecular level. The growing connection between optics and electronics, due to the increasing important role played by semiconductor materials and devices, find their expression in the term Photonics, which also reflects the importance of the photon aspect of light in the description of the performance of several optical systems. Nano-structures have unique capabilities that allow the enhanced performance of processes of interest in optical and photonic devices. In particular, these structures permit the nano-scale manipulation of photons, electrons and atoms; they represent a very hot topic of research and are relevant to many devices and applications. Nanotechnology, optics and photonics are key technologies of the twenty-first century. The rapidly increasing possibilities of nano-science enable a completely new level of molding the flow of light and controlling light-matter interaction, nearly on the atomic scale. This has for instance led to nano-antennas for light that can modify spontaneous emission of nearby molecules or that can act as high-figure-of-merit sensors. Antennas combined with emitters can also be used as novel nano-lasers (spasers). Other interesting areas are artificial optical materials called metamaterials and nano-plasmonic structures.

This book presents an account of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on “Nano-structures for Optics and Photonics: Optical Strategies for Enhancing Sensing, Imaging, Communication, and Energy Conversion,” held in Erice, Sicily, Italy, from 4–19 July 2013. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the “Ettore Majorana” Center for Scientific Culture. This Institute introduced the students to the field of nano-structures and provided a comprehensive overview on experiments and theory, basic physics and applications as well as on nano-fabrication and optical characterization.

Editors: Baldassare Di Bartolo, John Collins, Luciano Silvestri     

Access the publication here: Nano-Structures for Optics and Photonics   

Series: Series B: Physics and Biophysics

Publisher: Springer

ISBN: 978-94-017-9132-8 (Print); 978-94-017-9133-5 (Online)