Nanoplasmonics makes a connection to conventional optics to the nanoworld. Interesting performance like subwavelength focusing to invisibility cloaking, nanoplasmonics have profound applications in science and engineering world from biophotonics to nanocircuitry. Metal and dielectric have free d-shell electrons. When metal and dielectric of different refractive index come in contact, these free electrons get accumulated in a region at the metal-semiconductor interface forming nanoplasmons. Practical implementation of nano device fabrication is the most challenging task due to the dissipative losses in metal. The optimum operating condition can be achieved by the efficient use of optical gain. We review here the ongoing progress in the field of nanoplasmonic research.

Localized surface plasmon; Surface plasmon polaritons; Nanoparticles; Nanoplasmons; Resonance spectroscopy; Light concentrators; photovotaic device; photodectors; Metamaterial; Mach–Zender interferometric modulators; Directional-coupler switches; Hydrogel optical waveguide spectroscopy

This paper is primarily based on the concepts of nanoplasmonics and their important application. Nanoplasmonics is a new research field for scientist for the last couple of decades. Scientists are exploring nano-structured materials for noble properties at nano scale. The interaction of light with free electrons in metal-dielectric interface causes electrons to vibrate. In optics, metals were for years believed as dull of optical properties. Once, after the discovery of surface-enhanced Raman scattering [1] metals was believed to have appreciable optical properties. Nanoplasmonics device can offer considerable exciting optical properties in near future.

When two materials of different refractive indexes come in contact, due to their difference in refractive indexes, completely free electrons in materials come across to the surface boundary of the metal - semiconductor interface. When an incident electromagnetic field exerts force on these free electrons between metal-semiconductor interfaces, these free electrons start oscillating. Depending on their nature of oscillation, surface plasmon can be of two types-Localized Surface Plasmons (LSP) and Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP). Typically in LSP, electrons vibrate back and forth near their position, they don’t propagate. While the rest in SPP, electrons gather a considerable amount of energy and hence they propagate through the medium. These free electrons are in resonance at specific frequencies of operation; this particular frequency is defined as the resonance frequency for that device. Depending on materials used resonance behavior can be of different type though the structure, size and shape are same.

Plasmon based dielectric lenses and resonators can confined extremely high intense field in sub-wavelength. Optimum light confinement in nanoparticle can be achieved through plasmon based devices like modulators, switches, detectors, lenses, resonators.

Dissipative losses from the interaction of light with free electrons needs to be traded off with the localization with the incident light. This dissipative loss is more significant at optical frequencies like of the order of 1,000 cm^–1. Researchers developed various ways to mitigate these dissipative losses. Costas M. Soukoulis et.al explained that larger the materials lesser the loss. At optical frequencies, constituent metal is responsible for major losses. Part of the losses can be eliminated by avoiding nearby resonances and sharp edges of the current flow [3,4].

The atom has dimension of 1 angstrom or 10^-10 meter. Nano scale (10^-9 meter) materials can be considered as of several atoms and molecules. Scientist explored microstructure based materials for the decades. But nano structured material of size 1-100nm needs to be explored. Nano structured material characteristics such as lack of symmetry in electron confinement with size hinders explorations. Material properties depend on the shape and size of that material. Quantum dots are made of atoms and size of quantum dots of nano scale. Hence CdSe of different sizes have different emissions throughout the visible spectrum [5]. As shown in the figure, emission spectrum blue shifts with the decrease in quantum size. There is a direct relation between peak of the emission spectrum with the size of the quantum dot.

Material used so far in the research of nano scale technology are copper (Cu), silver (Ag), gold (Au), lead (Pb), Indium (In), Mercury (Hg), Tin (Sn), Cadmium (Cd). Among these materials, considering optical performance and reliability, gold and silver are believed to be noble materials while copper, lead, indium, mercury, tin and cadmium are considered as secondary nanomaterials. Gold and silver nanostructures exhibit an absorption spectrum in the visible region.

As free electrons beside in the vicinity of the surface between metal-semiconductor, optical properties are controlled by the surface type-flat surface and surface with nanoparticles. The researcher has demonstrated blue shifted absorption spectrum for nano rods over the nano spheres. Not all the materials are suitable for nano devices. Materials selected for nanomaterials should have the robustness, controllable properties, unusual target binding and of course of size in nano scale. Nano structured materials has advantages over bulk material due to their target binding phenomena which can change both chemical and physical properties of nanomaterial.

To have different nanomaterials with their different shape, size and composition very well established synthesis, fabrication, and characterization methods are developed, thus allowing us excellent control over their physical and chemical properties. For specific emissive, absorptive, and light-scattering properties, sizes, shapes and compositions of nanoparticles can now be systematically varied to produce new desired nanomaterials. Scientist gained significant control both the over size [7] and surfaces [8-12] for nanoparticles. They have demonstrated that anisotropy in nanostructure like triangular prisms [13-18], nanoscale rods [19-26], nanoshells [27-31], multipods [32-34], disks [35-39] and cubes [40-42] shows better performance over solid spheres.

Color changes with the change of nanoparticle size. Gold nanosphere is characteristically red while silver characteristically yellow. This color formation is due to the oscillation of free electrons in metal-semiconductor interfaces. This free electron oscillation is in the visible spectrum and the oscillation is in strong resonance in this frequency band. At this resonance, absorption peak is at maximum as shown for gold nanoparticles [43].

Gold nanosphere has single absorption resonance and peak of this resonance is relatively independent of the size of the gold nanospheres. With the enlargement of nanosphere its optical property changes negligibly. Where gold nanorod has two absorption resonances – one towards its shorter axis called transverse resonance second towards its larger axis called as longitudinal resonance. Optical property changes so promptly if we add anisotropy to the geometry. As we can see with the decrease in length for nanorod absorption spectra shifts towards lower wavelength making device to operate at the higher frequency causing device to a blue shift. As the orders of magnitude wider absorption peak prevail, it will promote for better sensitivity, making device for a wide range of operation.

Non-propagating vibrating electromagnetic excitations are bounded on material surfaces. And hence they are called Localized surface plasmons (LSPs). LSPs show resonance characteristic and these resonances can be of transversal and longitudinal resonance modes, dipolar or multi-polar resonance modes, Fano resonance mode. Incident electric field perpendicular to the nanostructures axis corresponds to the transversal resonance mode while electric field parallel to the axis of nanostructures matches up to the longitudinal resonance mode (figure 5(c)). L.M. Liz-Marzan [44] investigated transversal and longitudinal resonances due to their optical anisotropy for one-dimensional nanostructures. Generally, transversal resonance mode frequency is higher than that of the longitudinal resonance mode frequency [6].

While dipolar and multi-polar resonance modes can be obtained by changing the size of one- and zero-dimensional nanostructures. Generally small size nanostructures offer dipolar resonance modes and those with large sizes exhibit multipolar resonance modes. Moreover, frequency of the multipolar resonance mode is higher than that of dipolar resonance mode. An exceptional phenomenon, Fano resonance, appears with an asymmetric line shape owing to the interactions between a superradiant “bright” mode and a subradiant “dark” mode. Interaction between dipolar and quadrupolar resonances gives rise to the Fano resonance [6].

Resonance modes can be adjusted through various nanostructure parameters like spacing, aspect ratio, and length. Wurtz et al. investigated transversal and longitudinal Localized Surface Plasmons resonance (LSPR) of Au nanostructures engineered by electrodeposition in anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) templates [45]. Figure 6(b) shows the experimental extinction spectra of Au nanostructures for various incidence angles. Incident electric field perpendicular to nanostructure axis, extinction spectra gives rise to one single transversal LSP peak at 520 nm. At oblique incidence, the incident electric field which includes both s-polarized and p-polarized components exhibits two resonance peaks centered at 520 and 650 nm for transverse and the longitudinal resonance modes respectively. Longitudinal resonance is excited more effectively due to their strong dependence on large incidence angles. Angular sensitivity is a sign of strong anisotropy of the nanorods in the array (figure 6(b)). Resonance peak for longitudinal resonance mode shifts towards shorter wavelengths with increasing incidence angle while angular dispersion depends on the coupling strength between nanorods [6].

Moreover, resonance mode depends strongly both on the rod aspect ratio and the distance between the nanorods in the array. An increase in the nanorod aspect ratio splits resonances into two resonance frequencies and transverse mode undergoes a blueshift, moves towards higher frequency region and longitudinal mode undergoes a redshift, moves towards low frequency region.

Dipolar and multipolar localized surface plasmon resonance modes depend on nanostructure size. For instance, spherical nanoparticles of size 5–50 nm diameter corresponds to mainly dipolar resonance, as conduction electrons in metal are in phase with the incident electromagnetic field. However, when the dimensions become long enough, multipolar resonance modes can be excited as a result of phase retardation of the applied field inside the material [46]. For example, small and larger nanorods display dipolar and multipolar resonances respectively [47-49].

For some systems amplitude of the oscillator increases up to its maximum when its frequency is in phase with driving force while for other systems opposite phenomenon can also occur for certain resonance condition. Let’s consider weakly coupled harmonic oscillators system and an external applied force; then there will be two resonances near eigenfrequencies ω1 and ω2 of the oscillators [51]. Standard enhanced resonance exist near eigenfrequency ω- while other unusual sharp peak resonance is at eigenfrequency ω+. First enhanced resonance is described by a Lorentzian symmetric profile known as a Breit–Wigner resonance, while second unusual resonance is characterized by an asymmetric profile. In 1961, Ugo Fano discovered Fano resonance exhibits a distinctly asymmetric shape resulting from the constructive and destructive interference between narrow and broad discrete resonances [52].

Due to destructive interference of oscillations between first oscillator and the external force and the second oscillator amplitude of the first oscillator reduces to zero. When the coupled oscillators system is at resonance of second oscillator there are basically two forces acting on the first oscillator, which are indeed out of phase and cancel each other. This phenomenon describes the basic properties of Fano resonance [51], namely, resonant destructive interference.

Near-field intensity is strongly enriched due to LSPP resonance near the interface between metals and dielectric materials, and the enhancement mainly depends on the shape and size of the metal nanostructures. The metal nanostructures such as nanorods, nanotips, and nanogaps show strong near-field enhancement effects. Free charge carriers are detached with the applied external electric field of the propagating light. These separated charge carriers then introduce an additional field which oscillates with the same frequency as of the external field. As a result, an extremely strong field is developed near the interface of nanostructures [54]. The near-field enhancement effects has a great interest in some applications such as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) [55-57], nonlinear optics [58-61], and nanophotonics [62-64].

Holes with sizes smaller than that of the wavelength of the incident light reveal distinctive optical properties for an opaque metal film. These holes strongly enhance the transmission of light; these fascinating effects take place due to the interaction of the light with electronic resonances in metal surfaces [65]. Output surface of the metal nanoholes act as a new point source for the light propagating through them. These transmission enhanced phenomenon through tiny holes are of great importance in the applications such as subwavelength optics, nanophotonics, optoelectronics, and sensing to biophysics [6].

While for perfect conductor these phenomenon are reversed. Considering a single hole milled in a free-standing infinitely thin Ag film. Transmission efficiency of normally incident light can be approximately expressed as [66].

T=64/(27π²) (kr)⁴

where propagation constant, k =2π/λ and r and λ are the hole radius and the wavelength of the incident light, respectively. T is proportional to (r/λ)⁴ that indicates transmission of light is very little for a very small hole compared with the wavelength.

Optical transmission like metal nanoholes, can also be enhanced through metal nanoslits. Garcia-Vidal et al. theoretically and experimentally discovered strong enhanced optical transmission through single nanoslit edged by a finite array of grooves made on a thick Ag film [67]. A single nanoslit of width of 40 nm was surrounded by ±5 grooves of length of 10 um (Figs. 10(a) and 10(b)), was fabricated by a focused-ionbeam technique. A wide transmission maxima was revealed at around 725 nm (figure 10(c)). This maximum corresponds due to transmission through the nanoslit has enhancement factor of about 6. Transmission peak of grooves surrounded nanoslits of periods ranging from 500 to 800 nm of nominal depth of 40 nm, shifts to higher wavelengths with enlarged period; the peak is strongest at 650 nm. As a consequence, peak appears at the wavelength agreeing with the nanoslit waveguide mode position. For transmission enhancement optimum groove depth is of 40 nm. Garcia-Vidal et al. suggested three main ways to enhance optical transmission: groove cavity mode excitation (depth control of the grooves), in-phase groove re-emission (period control of the groove array), and nanoslit waveguide mode (thickness control of the metal film). Two orders of magnitude transmission enhancement of light can be attained by adjusting these geometrical parameters [6].

Optical setup for Hydrogel optical waveguide spectroscopy (HOWS) [68] biosensor is depicted in figure11. He–Ne laser with a power of 2mW at a wavelength of λ = 633nm is transmitted through a polarizer, Polarizer polarizes to transverse magnetic (TM) mode and is passed to a high refractive index (n_p=1.845) prism at [90]⁰ and through a sensor chip. The sensor chip consists of a glass slide and with a PNIPAAm hydrogel film and glass is coated with a gold layer of thickness between 37 and 45 nm. Cell dimension inserts in the chip area of volume 10μL, length 10mm and depth 0.1mm. Rate of flow of liquid sample over chip is 200 μL[min]^^-1. For the current analysis purpose, 45nm gold and thiol Self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was used for the sensor. To control the angle of incidence of a laser beam θ, total setup was mounted on a rotating stage. The reflected laser beam from the sensor was measured by a photo detector. Reflectivity is determined as a ratio of two light intensities: reflected light from a sensor chip and from a blank glass slide. Reflectivity variation σ(R) can range from between 7×10^-5 and 2×10^-4.

Evanescent wave is first internally reflected at sensor surface and then penetrates through the gold layer and which is then interact with surface plasmon (SP) and hydrogel waveguide (HW) modes. This evanescent wave propagates along metal interface. SP and HW modes excite two distinct dips as can be seen in the angular reflectivity spectrum. Angles θ associated with these dips can be related with the propagation constant β of the reflected laser beam component as

[k]₀ n_p Sinθ=Re{β}

Where k_o=2π/λ is free space light propagation constant. Propagation constant β of Surface Plasmon and Hydrogel Waveguide mode can be calculated from their dispersion relation.

Scientists are exploring nanostructures to effectively concentrate light on nanoscale devices. The structures can be of two types: resonant and nonresonant. The electric field associated with light wave in resonant structures, apply a force on the negatively charged electrons inside the metal and with this applied force, electrons oscillate, creating surface plasmon inside material. At a particular frequency this oscillation is at resonant making a huge charge displacement in contact of the metal - dielectric interface. Resonant characteristic of quasistatic and retardationbased structures will be discussed first, then will continue with nonresonant characteristic.

When the size of a nanostructure is much smaller than the freespace wavelength, i.e. λ/a ratio is very high, then this structured nanoparticle can be called as quasistatic nanoparticle, quasistatic nanoparticle structure experiences a uniform electric field everywhere at any instant of time. With the help of potential function one can determine resonance characteristic of a given geometry. Spherical nanoparticles can be in resonance at wavelengths where ε_m = –2ε_d, where ε_m and ε_d are of metallic and dielectric permittivities respectively.

Being quasistatic resonance frequencies independent of particle size, by changing metal, shape or dielectric environment resonant frequency for nanoparticles can range over a wider frequency spectrum [69] (Figure 12a and 12b).

Frequency depends on the energies in metal and its surrounding dielectric and this frequency will be in resonance when they are equal. Quality factor, Q at the resonant frequency depends on metal losses and doesn’t change with the change of geometry. Sub wavelength particles in combine can enhance field at least couple of orders of magnitude larger than single subwavelength particle. A single subwavelength particle can offer enhanced in the range of 10-100.

When nanostructures dimensions approaching external applied light wavelength. i.e. Wavelength of external light is comparable to nano particle or even smaller than nanostructure, the system is considered as retardation and effect is called as retardation effect. Retardation principle is based on scaled radio frequency antenna design concepts. Truncated SPP waveguides of wavelength scaled structures are metal nanowires [70,71] or strips [72]. Surface plasmon polaritons oscillate back and forth inside the metal, creating a standing wave in the metal. This back and forth oscillation of free electrons in metal is considered as Fabry–Perot resonator for SPPs. The resonant length of this fabry-Perot structure is equal to nλ_SPP/2, where n is an integer and for first resonance mode n equal to one and λ_SPP is the wavelength of the resonator (Figure 12c–12e).

As the structure size of this resonator is very small, dielectric lenses are used to efficiently couple freespace light to the structure of interest. Plasmonic structures can store light in areas that are sometimes quite larger than the wavelength of light.

Nonresonant effects can also be utilized to store light inside the materials. Various structured nano-devices such as plasmonic tapers: metal cones or wedges, can offer broadband, nonresonant enhancements. As a wave propagates, group velocities in these structures decrease towards apex while at the same time wave vector increases towards its apex. Hence, if we launch SPP at the base of a structure, the structure will experiences strong field at its tip.

For complete absorption of light photovoltaic device needs to be thick enough. Figure 13 shows AM1.5 solar absorption spectrum and light passes once through 2μm thick crystalline Si film. The figure shows that for 600–1,100 nm spectral range, light absorption considerably low. But traditional wafer Si solar cells have 180–300 μm. For high efficiency diffusion length of minority carrier has to be several times higher than the actual material thickness.

Physical thickness of solar cell can be reduced in three ways. First, subwavelength nanoparticles interact with propagating Sun light and semiconductor thin film absorbs completely these electromagnetic waves by folding these waves several times before being absorbed (figure 14a). Second, subwavelength nanoparticles can be placed in metal-semiconductor interface and interacting with light, those subwavelength nanoparticles excite plasmonic near field and increases solar cell effective absorption (figure 14b). Third, corrugated metallic film could be installed at the back of solar cell devices. Due to the refractive index mismatch between metal and semiconductor, Surface Plasmon polariton (SPP) modes generates at their interface. Absorbed sunlight could couple with these SPP modes as well as with the guided modes in the semiconductor slab (figure 14c). Physical thickness of photovoltaic solar could be reduced considerably applying these three techniques, could be reduced in the range of 10- to 100-fold but in both cases optical absorption remains constant.

Nanoparticles embedded inside homogeneous medium. Both forward and reverse wave propagates symmetrically from these nanoparticles. But when these nano particles beside in interface between metal and semiconductor, light penetrates first in a medium of higher permittivity. When light scattered at the critical angle, total internal reflection takes place and light remains trapped. The Si - air interface has a critical angle of 16⁰. Due to corrugated metallic surface at the back of the photovoltaic cell, the light reflected back towards the surface and again interacts with the nanoparticles and again reflects towards the corrugated back surface. Thus light bounces back and forth for several times before being absorbed in semiconductor film. Absorption efficiency depends on metal nanoparticles shape and size and it has been proved that smaller nanoparticles could increase absorb of light due to increase cross section areas [74].

Optical antenna similar to microwave and radiowave antenna, is an interesting concept to the scientists. They use optical radiation at subwavelength scale. Optical antennas can be used to enhance the efficiency of photodetection [75, 76], light emission [77,78], sensing [79], heat transfer [80,81] and spectroscopy [82]. Optical antenna takes care of optical propagation using elements like mirrors, lenses, fibres and diffractive elements while for radiowave and microwave antenna deals with electromagnetic fields at subwavelength scale.

Optical antenna converts optical radiation into localized energy, and vice versa. Fabrication accuracies for optical antenna necessitates down to a few nanometers. So far optical antennas have been fabricated by top-down nanofabrication techniques such as focused ion beam milling [83,84] or electron-beam lithography [85,86], and also by bottom-up self-assembly schemes [87,88]. Size of a receiver or transducer is generally much smaller than that of radiation wavelength, λ, and is normally of the order of λ/100 and at optical frequency, antenna requires dimensions to be of ~ 5 nm [89].

Optical antenna associates both with quantum and pure photon sources systems, and which in turn introduces new physics such as breaking of selection rules and strong coupling. Directed emission and reception concepts can now be imposed to photon emitters.

White J.S and et al explored a deep subwavelength volume nanoplasmonic structure: a single isolated slit in a metallic film on an absorbing substrate [90]. They carried out their analysis based on finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) simulations [91] of slits generated in an Al film on a Si substrate. Figure 16 (a) shows the energy density distribution of a slit. Dimensions are for this slit 50nm wide and of 100nm long. The plane wave of wavelength 633nm excites the structure from the top with polarization towards x direction.

Strong energy concentration is observed both below the diffraction limit as well as in the semiconductor. White J.S and et al claimed these enhanced energy density below the slit due to resonance phenomena. They demonstrate this resonance characteristic as surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode supported by the slit [see figure16 (b)]. This resonance geometry works as a truncated metal–dielectric–metal (MDM) plasmonic waveguide [92]. A strong reflection is observed from its truncation edge terminal and cavity is termed as resonance cavity. Their proposed geometry can offer absorption enhancements up to 352% for λ=633 nm and quite user friendly for its fabrication.

Using commercially available FDFD simulations they calculated absorption enhancement for a variable slit of dimension 1.5w x50 nm where slit width is 1.5w nm and height is 50nm. [See figure 17 (b)]. Figure 17 (a) shows the absorption spectrum as a function of slit length as well as with slit widths, normalized to bare silicon without any metallic structure on its back; absorption enhancement decreases by 34.8% with a perfect antireflection coating with the bare silicon.

White J.S and et al investigate scattering coefficients of the metal-dielectric-metal system (MDM) [figure 17 (b)] for Fabry–Perot model. Plane wave electric field polarized normal to x direction strikes the top surface with permittivity constant ε₁. Cavity (ε₂) of length L and width w is formed in metal film (ε_M). Plane wave couples to plasmon modes supported by the cavity with a transmission coefficient t₁₂. Plane wave also couples to surface plasmon polaritons on interface ε₁/ ε_M, but they have very little effect on isolated cavity and can be ignored. Incident electromagnetic waves bounce back and forth several times at top and bottom interfaces with complex reflection coefficients r₂₁and r₂₃. Propagating plasmon mode out couples to induce absorption, which is termed as coupling coefficient k₂₃, a ratio of absorption in the 1.5wx50 nm region to the magnitude of the propagating electric field. Scattering parameters; transmission and reflection spectrum as well as coupling coefficients can be calculated from FDFD simulations. They discovered width independent first order resonance at L≈100 nm and resonance length decreases as with the decrease of slit width as k_MDM increases. They also found that lowest order resonance length is off L__res≈λ _MDM/5. If we could eliminate losses in the aluminum film, then absorption could be increased by 19% (w=100 nm) to 82% (w=30 nm).

Metamaterials are artificial material engineered to achieve specific electric and magnetic characteristic from that materials which are not present in nature. Exciting optical characteristic can be tuned from this man-made material. J. B. Pendry et al detailed the enhance gained plasmonic nanostructures, such as metamaterial emitters, nanolasers, spacers and so on [93]. They dealt with problems and limitation associated with these structures and resolve these problems both analytically and experimentally. They explained later the experimental success in association with the loss-compensated negative-index and double negative metamaterial. These materials are also termed as left handed materials. Effective parameters more specifically effective permittivity and effective permeability of these materials can be controlled over a wide frequency range. Metamaterial research can be motivated in the area of high-resolution imaging [94], invisibility cloaks [95], small antennas [96], quantum levitation [97].

In the last couple of decades different types of metamaterial has been introduced by numerous researchers globally. All of these metamaterials are operational in RF and optical frequency range. But these materials are lossy in the visible band and so still researchers are working to fabricate low loss metamaterial for visible and higher order spectrum. One of the key measuring factors for metamaterial characteristic is its figure of merit (FOM) and is defined as FOM = Re{n}/Im{n}. Higher its value, better its performance, lower its loss, easier to fabricate.

For Rapid light routing and switching in optical communication, high speed and poor efficient IC has increasing demand for the last couple of decades. In these devices light passes through a guided wave guide. The waveguide is made of core and cladding where core has a higher refractive index than that of the dielectric. Complete internal reflection takes place in core material and thus light propagates through the core material. Waveguide modes can be controlled through an external electric field for EO effects and with magnetic field for MO effects. Positioning of electrode for modulators or switches need to be taken special care.

Thin metal nanostripe embedded inside the dielectric can support propagation of a Long Range Surface Plasmon (LRSPP) mode, but Thomas Nikolajsen [98] and et al showed rigorously by experiment that such a stripe can also carry electrical signals that influences the LRSPP mode. They are the first guys to demonstrate the first examples of electrically controlled plasmonic components, opening new areas of research interest in photonic modulators and switches. They detailed the design, fabrication, and characterization of thermooptic Mach–Zender interferometric modulators (MZIMs) and directional-coupler switches (DCSs). These devices require low driving powers as low as < 10 mW for modulators and < 100 mW for switches, high extinction ratios as high as >30 dB, moderate response times of ~1 ms.

The operation of a thermo-optic MZIM is based on changing the LRSPP propagation constant in a heated arm resulting in the phase difference of two LRSPP modes that interfere in the output Y-junction. The Characteristic curve presented realizes the feature associated to LRSPPs that allow us to control and guide optical power through the same material. Thermooptic effect depends on the type of material being used. Proper use of material will enhance system efficiency further. Characteristics presented here can be improved, the component could be made attractive for communication industries. We can use this design concept for other designs too, like Y- and X-junction based DOSs. Long range Surface plasmon polaritons (RSPP) components are fabricated through the true planar processing technology, that simplifies development processes, large-scale integration possible, and photonic devices fabrication possibility.

Plasmon based MDM waveguide can be manufactured in nanoscale level. High confinement modes in the cavity is strongly limited to rapidly attenuating SPP waves. Materials used today in all optical fields have modulation amplitude of ~3 dB and transmission losses of about ~3dB for IC application. Those materials are being used in all optical switching configurations [99,100] and for all control devices [101]. In accelerating modulators researchers have demonstrated a modulator application for terahertz frequency spectrum [102].

Nanoplasmons has profound effect both on chemical and thermal reaction. Induced enhanced electromagnetic field by these nanoplasmons increases the chemical and thermal reaction rate. Abraham Nitzan and L. E. Brus [103] investigated enhanced photochemical reactions for this electromagnetic field. They demonstrated both by experimentally and numerically a simple theory for ultraviolet, visible, and infrared photochemical enhancement near rough dielectric and metallic surfaces described and investigated. Noble metals Ag, Au and Cu due to their low plasma frequency are the most efficient enhancing reactors. Nitzan and Brus observed the same characteristics with alkali metals as with the noble materials. Silver is the best enhancing substrate found till to date. This is because of its narrow, pronounced plasmon resonance.

Chemical and thermal process can be controlled by the temperature induced in nanostructured particles. Heat induced in nanoplasmons has various applications like in detection and killing of cancer cells [104], drug delivery [105], photothermal melting of DNA [106,107], growth of semiconductor nanowires and carbon nanotubes [108], nanofluidics and chemical separation [109], polymer surface modification [110], phase change memory [111,112]. Due to their large cross sectional area metallic nanoparticles are effective sources of heat generation. Absorb and scattering of light can be manipulated by changing the shape, size and dielectric environment [113]. Different methods have been developed to measure this nanoparticles temperature [114].

Nanoplasmonics has become one of the most exciting research areas due to the ability to manipulate free electron oscillation in the interface of metal-semiconductor in various fields and geometric configurations. These oscillations takes us to the peak of modern technology. Guiding and concentrating light capabilities in very subwavelength region of the nanostructure is the key interest of the plasmonics device.

Conventional solar cell is much more thicker than the plasmon based solar cell due to high optical length and reduced physical length. As physical length is reduced significantly much cheap plasmon solar cell can be manufactured at lower price. Modern day high resolution camera uses plasmon technology to provide us vivid pictures of the objects. In recent past in communication sectors we used very large size antenna for transmission and receiving information, with the help of nanoplasmon concepts researchers are capable of producing super small antenna. Plasmon acts as primary agent and can change the chemical and thermal reaction rate drastically. Techniques have been developed to detect infected cancer cells and then kill them in thermal plasmon treatment. We can cure infected cells with the help of drug delivery technique. In manufacturing semiconductors nanowires and carbon nanotubes nanoplasmon acts as the key role for their fabrication process. In the 60s people watched in movie actors made their appearance on screen disguise, now researchers have made invisible cloak based on these nanoplasmons that can make thing invisible. Despite of lots of remarkable properties of nanoplasmonic devices, dissipative losses in all of the conventional optical devices are considerably high. Scientist proved that engineered metamaterial can reduce this dissipative loss significantly.Larger the volume of engineered materials lower the dissipative loss.

The authors acknowledge Michigan Technlogical University for the financial support.