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The Role of Coupled Nanoplasmon Excitation in Growth Mechanism of Laser-Induced Self-Organized Nanostructures in AgCl-Ag Waveguide Thin Films

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Abstract

Formation mechanism of laser-induced spontaneous periodic nanostructures in thin light-sensitive AgCl waveguide films, doped by silver nanoparticles, is studied. It is found that the initial size, geometry, and surface coverage parameters of Ag nanoparticles instate preconditions for the nanostructure formation. These parameters play essential roles in coupled nanoplasmon excitation in silver nanoclusters, which in turn influences scattering of the incident light from the silver clusters. Some parts of the scattered light propagate as waveguide modes in the film and interference with the incident light. Afterward, migration of the Ag nanoparticles into the minima of the interference pattern forms the nanostructure. Simultaneously, excitation of coupled nanoplasmons in the neighboring clusters enhances the scattered light intensity. It is observed that longer exposure results in destruction of the formed nanostructures, because of creation of electrical joint between agglomerated clusters in the interference pattern’s minima, which leads to weakening of the TE mode excitation and, consequently, domination of the Gaussian profile of the incident light. This leads to the deceleration of the self-organized nanostructure development, growth rate, and quality. We have found that competition between the Gaussian profile of the incident laser field and the interference field causes a finally saturating oscillatory behavior of the self-organizing process.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Y. Abdi and Dr. M.F. Miri from the Department of Physics of University of Tehran for their valuable discussions. A. Nahal appreciates Dr. M. Nouri-Zonoz from the Department of Physics of University of Tehran for his comments related to the English language of the paper. Most of AFM images are produced in the Department of Physics of University of Tehran. Some parts of AFM images are taken in Max Planck Institute for Science of Light, Erlangen, Germany.

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  1. Photonic Materials Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, 14399-55961, Iran

    Somaye Kashani & Arashmid Nahal

  2. Optical Metrology Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, 14399-55961, Iran

    Arashmid Nahal

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  1. Somaye Kashani
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  2. Arashmid Nahal
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Correspondence to Arashmid Nahal.

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Kashani, S., Nahal, A. The Role of Coupled Nanoplasmon Excitation in Growth Mechanism of Laser-Induced Self-Organized Nanostructures in AgCl-Ag Waveguide Thin Films. Plasmonics 12, 1305–1316 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-016-0388-x

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