Gain-Assisted Plasmonic/Dielectric Nanoshells in Optical Tweezers: Non-Linear Optomechanics and Thermal Effects. Paolo Polimeno, Francesco Patti, Melissa Infusino, Jonathan Sànchez, Maria Iati, Rosalba Saija, Giovanni Volpe, Onofrio Maragò, Alessandro Veltri Submitted asOSA-OMA-2021, AF1D.D Contribution Date: 16 April Time: 13:15 CEST
Short Abstract
We study theoretically the optomechanics of a dyed dielectric/metallic nanoshell in stationary Optical Tweezers. We consider the thermophoretic effects due to the interaction between the incident radiation and the nanoparticle metallic component.
Gain-Assisted Optomechanical Position Locking of Metal/Dielectric Nanoshells in Optical Potentials
Paolo Polimeno, Francesco Patti, Melissa Infusino, Jonathan Sánchez, Maria A. Iatì, Rosalba Saija, Giovanni Volpe, Onofrio M. Maragò & Alessandro Veltri
ACS Photonics 7(5), 1262–1270 (2020)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.0c00213
We investigate gain-assisted optical forces on dye-enriched silver nanoshell in the quasi-static limit by means of a theoretical/numerical approach. We demonstrate the onset of nonlinear optical trapping of these resonant nanostructures in a counter-propagating Gaussian beam configuration. We study the optical forces and trapping behavior as a function of wavelength, particle gain level, and laser power. We support the theoretical analysis with Brownian dynamics simulations that show how particle position locking is achieved at high gains in extended optical trapping potentials. Finally, for wavelengths blue-detuned with respect to the plasmon-enhanced resonance, we observe particle channeling by the standing wave antinodes due to gradient force reversal. This work opens perspectives for gain-assisted optomechanics where nonlinear optical forces are finely tuned to efficiently trap, manipulate, channel, and deliver an externally controlled nanophotonic system.