Femtosecond dynamics and control of metal-organic hybrid plasmonic systems

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Michael Bauer
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2009 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 138207511

The subject of this project is the study of nano-scaled metal-organic plasmonic hybrid-systems in interaction with broadband femtosecond laser pulses. The investigated hybrid systems are composed of surface plasmon supporting metal nanostructures and organic nanofibers characterized by strong nonlinear characteristics and optical waveguiding properties. In our study we plan to systematically address and control the spatio-temporal response of these hybrid devices with respect to light-coupling and light-transport. The main experimental technique that will be applied in our study is the time-resolved and interferometric two-photon photoemission electron microscopy technique which enables us to monitor the ultrafast phase- and group dynamics of localized nano-optical fields on length scales that are well below the diffraction limit. Oligophenylene-based organic nanofibers exhibit broadband and almost loss-free optical waveguiding properties down to wavelengths as short as 400 nm. We believe that these fibers can play a crucial role as light-channeling sub-units and highly localized, nonlinear active emitters in future ultrafast nanophotonic devices.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1391: Ultrafast Nanooptics
• International Connection: Denmark
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Horst-Günter Rubahn