Continuously Tunable, Polarization Controlled, Colour Palette Produced from Nanoscale Plasmonic Pixels

Abstract

Colour filters based on nano-apertures in thin metallic films have been widely studied due to their extraordinary optical transmission and small size. These properties make them prime candidates for use in high-resolution colour displays and high accuracy bio-sensors. The inclusion of polarization sensitive plasmonic features in such devices allow additional control over the electromagnetic field distribution, critical for investigations of polarization induced phenomena. Here we demonstrate that cross-shaped nano-apertures can be used for polarization controlled color tuning in the visible range and apply fundamental theoretical models to interpret key features of the transmitted spectrum. Full color transmission was achieved by fine-tuning the periodicity of the apertures, whilst keeping the geometry of individual apertures constant. We demonstrate this effect for both transverse electric and magnetic fields. Furthermore we have been able to demonstrate the same polarization sensitivity even for nano-size, sub-wavelength sets of arrays, which is paramount for ultra-high resolution compact colour displays.

Optical Chemical Barcoding Based on Polarization Controlled Plasmonic Nanopixels

“…In this work, modes were assigned using the dispersion relation developed by Ghaemi et al Although the theoretical dispersion model provides a good match to the data collected in air, it can lead to modes being assigned incorrectly. For example, in this work, using a variety of different analytes reveals that the main peak previously identified as being associated with the Ag/glass interface must actually arise from interactions at the Ag/analyte interface. This problem is highlighted in previous studies (e.g., Krishnan et al), which also demonstrate a strong coupling between interfaces in EOT systems.…”

“…The difficulty in correctly identifying peaks has been highlighted in our previous study . In this work, modes were assigned using the dispersion relation developed by Ghaemi et al Although the theoretical dispersion model provides a good match to the data collected in air, it can lead to modes being assigned incorrectly.…”

“…The first observation of extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) through subwavelength apertures was made by Ebbesen et al in 1998 . Since then, there has been considerable effort invested in understanding the properties, behavior, and responses of subwavelength apertures as highlighted in the 2010 review of Garcia‐Vidal et al The rapidly increasing interest in this field is motivated by the broad range of applications for these devices, which includes color filtering and sensing, and the new physical phenomena, which can be explored. The availability of modern nanofabrication tools to produce even more sophisticated devices has also greatly increased the number of research areas in which subwavelength aperture arrays are having an impact.…”

“…Here, we present a new approach to RI sensing, which works within the visible range and uses microfluidics combined with dual pitch plasmonic arrays, which have found recent application as continuously tunable color filters . The key features of these new devices are as follows: (1)Plasmonics have previously been used in a small number of cases to detect RI changes by eye .…”

Polarization-Controlled Broad Color Palette Based on an Ultrathin One-Dimensional Resonant Grating Structure

“…A group of different color filters and an elaborate nanoscale pattern that is constructed by appropriately combining them are practically fabricated so as to confirm an arbitrary coloration set through the adjustment of the polarization and the grating period. It is predicted that the proposed devices can readily be applied to applications such as ultrafast display devices, security tags, anti-counterfeiting, and optical data storage518192021.…”