Hysteresis assisted narrowband resonances in a chain of nonlinear plasmonic arrays

TL;DR

This paper explores how hysteresis in a chain of nonlinear nanoresonators can produce narrowband resonances, with potential applications in sensing, by leveraging quantum dot saturation effects and loss compensation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach using hysteresis in nonlinear plasmonic arrays with quantum dots to achieve narrowband resonances for sensing applications.

Findings

Hysteresis enables narrowband resonance in the system.

Loss compensation improves resonance quality.

Amplitude and phase detection schemes are compared.

Abstract

The plasmonic structures exhibiting narrowband resonances (NBR) are of a great interest for various applications. We propose to use hysteresis behavior in a 1D system of nonlinear nanoresonators in order to achieve the NRB; the nonlinearity is provided by saturation of a two-level quantum system coupled with the nanoresonators (nanolaser/spaser configuration). Quantum Dots (QD) were assumed as quantum systems; their numerical parameters have been adopted for estimations. Role of the loss compensation on the quality of the NBR is shown for below (under compensation) and above threshold (generating spasers) operation modes. Amplitude and phase detection schemes of the prospective experimental realization are compared using the developed model. Possible sensor oriented applications of the proposed system are discussed.