Excitation, scattering, and steering of acoustic waves with plasmonic nanostructures

• Applicant: Professor Leonardo de Souza Menezes, Ph.D., since 1/2024
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 465118501

Our proposed project aims to translate concepts developed in nanophotonics to nanoacoustics, in order to achieve novel means of control over nanoacoustic resonators and the propagation of surface acoustic waves (SAWs). For this we will utilize plasmonic nanoantennas excited optically by ultrashort laser pulses as a means to transduce from electromagnetic field energy to mechanical oscillations. The concept of nanoantennas has been actively developed in recent years in nanophotonics and nanoplasmonics, for efficient directional excitation of surface electromagnetic waves (SEWs), but for SAWs it has been studied much less. We will therefore comprehensively investigate the translation of state-of-the-art and timely nanophotonic phenomena to nanoacoustics, enabling new applications of SAWs in acousto-optics and sensing. The work program is divided into three work packages: acoustic properties of individual plasmonic nanoparticles (WP1); plasmonic nanoantennas for efficient and directional launching of SAWs (WP2); plasmonic acoustic nanoantennas for biosensing (WP3). The specific tasks of the proposed research project include: engineering of high-Q acoustic nanoresonators, in particular nanoresonators supporting bound states in the continuum; the development of a multipole approach, group theory methods, and a Green function formalism for acoustic nanoresonators on the substrate supporting SAWs; development of the acoustic Purcell effect and implementation of the strong-coupling regime between two acoustic nanoresonators; theoretical and experimental studies of anapole and Kerker effects; directional launching of SAWs with nanoantennas; study of the recoil force acting on an nanoantenna as a result of the directional excitation of SAWs; implementation of mass loading sensors based on a single acoustic nanoresonators. The joint ITMO-LMU team includes highly qualified theoreticians and experimentalists. They are capable to carry out the full cycle of scientific research described in our work programme. Apart from the scientific goals of the project, its successful implementation will help to transfer knowledge, developed methods and technologies between LMU and ITMO, supporting Russian-German scientific relations. Such a collaboration will be very important for young scientists involved in the project as it will help to develop and promote their careers and integrate them into the international scientific community.The combination of the scientific group’s experience in the implementation of large international projects, the comprehensive research plan, necessary equipment, rich scientific background, allows us to be confident that all formulated tasks will be fully addressed, the results will be published in top-ranked scientific journals and they will be of high interest of the international scientific communities of both nanophotonics and nanoacoustics.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Partner Organisation: Russian Science Foundation, until 3/2022
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Andrey Bogdanov, Ph.D., until 3/2022
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Stefan Maier, until 12/2023