Subdiffraction spatial mapping of nanomechanical modes using a plasmomechanical system

Published

July 31, 2018

Author(s)

Brian Roxworthy, Sreya Vangara, Vladimir Aksyuk

Abstract

Plasmomechanical systems - formed by introducing a mechanically compliant gap between metallic nanostructures - produce large optomechanical interactions that can be localized to deep subwavelength volumes. This unique ability opens a new path to study optomechanics in nanometer-scale regimes inaccessible by other methods. Here, we demonstrate that localized motion transduction enabled by plasmomechanics can be used to spatially map the displacement modes of a vibrating nanomechanical system with a resolution approximately twice that of a wide-field microscope. We show that white light illumination can be used for transduction instead of a monochromatic laser, and develop a semi-analytical model matching the changes in optomechanical coupling constant and motion signal strength observed in a broadband transduction experiment. Our results represent a new functionality for the growing field of plasmomechanical systems and may benefit applications in wafer-scale sensing and optomechanical modulation.

Citation

ACS Photonics

Volume

5

Issue

9

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.8b00604

Local Download

Keywords

plasmonics, optomechanics, NEMS, MEMS, optical microelectromechanical devices

Citation

Roxworthy, B. , Vangara, S. and Aksyuk, V. (2018), Subdiffraction spatial mapping of nanomechanical modes using a plasmomechanical system, ACS Photonics, [online], https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.8b00604, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=925760 (Accessed October 13, 2025)