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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Series

2009

Physics Faculty Publications

Light absorption

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Enhancement Of Light Absorption In A Quantum Well By Surface Plasmon Polariton, Jacob B. Khurgin, Greg Sun May 2009

Enhancement Of Light Absorption In A Quantum Well By Surface Plasmon Polariton, Jacob B. Khurgin, Greg Sun

Physics Faculty Publications

We investigate analytically the degree to which the absorption of light in a single quantum well can be enhanced in the proximity of a structured metallic surface and show that the wavelength at which the maximum enhancement of about one order of magnitude is attained depends on metal loss and the initial absorption in a quantum well.


Practical Limits Of Absorption Enhancement Near Metal Nanoparticles, Jacob B. Khurgin, Greg Sun, R. A. Soref Feb 2009

Practical Limits Of Absorption Enhancement Near Metal Nanoparticles, Jacob B. Khurgin, Greg Sun, R. A. Soref

Physics Faculty Publications

We consider the enhanced absorption of optical radiation by molecules placed in the vicinity of spherical metal nanoparticles in the realistic situation that includes perturbation of the optical field by the absorbing molecules. We show that there is an optimal nanosphere radius that gives the strongest enhancement for each combination of the number of absorbing molecules, their absorption strength, and their distance from the nanosphere surface and that the enhancement is strong only for relatively weak and diluted absorbers.