|
Plasmonics |
Article Submitted by: Marcia Henin
Sunday, 24 January 2010
|
Plasmonics is considered to substantiate the strongest points of both the optical cord as well as electronic data transfer. It is sometimes called 'light on wire' and allows the transmission of data at optical frequencies along the surface of a small metal wire. Plasmons carry out this function despite the fact that the data travels in the form of electron density distributions instead of photons. Plasmons are density waves of electrons, which are created when light strikes the surface of a metal under accurate circumstances. These density waves are generated at optical frequencies and, at very small and rapid waves; they have the tendency to encode a lot of information. Their capacity of encoding information is far more than conventional electronics. This field touched new levels with the discovery of novel 'metamaterials'. Metamaterials are nothing but materials in which electron oscillations can result in some astonishing optical properties. Furthermore, the progress of plasmonics gathered momentum after new tools such as the increase in computational power and the new and innovative methods for constructing nanoscale structures were introduced. The increases in computational power have allowed investigators to accurately simulate the complicated electromagnetic fields generated by plasmonic effects whereas the new methods of constructing nanoscale structures have made it possible for investigators to build and test hyper-small plasmonic circuits and devices. The main limitation to this technique today is plasmons tend to disperse after traveling a few millimeters. This quality of plasmons is making them too short-lived to be suitable for computer chips, which are a few centimeters across. In order to send data longer distances, the technology of plasmons will need more improvement. However, this limitation of plasmons has been overcome with the use of nanostructured materials that fabricate effective plasmonic devices. A large amount of synergy can be attained by integrating plasmonic, electronic and conventional dielectric photonic devices on the same chip and by taking advantage of the strengths of each technology. Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
You are welcome to publish this article free of charge on your website, newsletter, or e-zine, provided:
- You don't change the article in any way
- You include the entire article, including the "about the author" box
- All hyperlinks must remain intact, including email addresses, and the link to ArticleBlast.com at the bottom
- In doing so you agree to indemnify the article's author, and ArticleBlast.com and its directors, officers, employees and agents from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities which arise out of its use
- It is also recommended that you provide a courtesy copy of your publication to the author of the article
