Circularly polarized light detection with hot electrons in chiral plasmonic metamaterials

Circularly polarized light is utilized in various optical techniques and devices. However, using conventional optical systems to generate, analyse and detect circularly polarized light involves multiple optical elements, making it challenging to realize miniature and integrated devices. While a number of ultracompact optical elements for manipulating circularly polarized light have recently been demonstrated, the development of an efficient and highly selective circularly polarized light photodetector remains challenging. Here we report on an ultracompact circularly polarized light detector that combines large engineered chirality, realized using chiral plasmonic metamaterials, with hot electron injection. We…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 1336455, CBET-1336455
• VU
  Vanderbilt University
• VF
  Volkswagen Foundation
• OO
  Office of Naval Research

  Awards: N00014-14-1-0475, N00014
• DO
  Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems

  Award: CBET-1336455
• AR
  Army Research Office

  Awards: W911NF-12-1-0407, W911NF