Print Email Facebook Twitter Quantum Plasmonics Title Quantum Plasmonics Author Heeres, R.W. Contributor Kouwenhoven, L.P. (promotor) Faculty Applied Sciences Department Quantum Nanoscience Date 2012-11-27 Abstract This thesis describes experiments with surface plasmons: light confined to metal-dielectric interfaces. By using metals it is possible to make extremely small waveguides for light, even below the diffraction limit of dielectric structures. We study the quantum aspects of single plasmons in particular. To this end we create small circuits of gold waveguides with integrated detectors that are able to sense individual plasmons. In a beam splitter geometry we clearly observe quantum mechanical interaction between pairs of indistinguishable plasmons created using parametric down-conversion. We further describe simulations and experiments with optical antennas that allow to focus light to the nanoscale. Although the losses in metals present a significant challenge, these structures provide an interesting toolbox to bring light to the scale of typical electronic components. Subject quantum optics To reference this document use: https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:42f458de-8ede-4929-bd1a-8d62c63fe7bd Embargo date 2012-11-27 ISBN 9789085931447 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type doctoral thesis Rights (c) 2012 Heeres, R.W. Files PDF thesis_heeres_print.pdf 18.53 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:42f458de-8ede-4929-bd1a-8d62c63fe7bd/datastream/OBJ/view