Dynamical Casimir effect for surface plasmon polaritons

TL;DR

This paper investigates how oscillations in surface plasmon polaritons at a dielectric-metal interface can induce a dynamical Casimir effect, leading to photon pair generation that may surpass traditional methods in efficiency.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism for photon pair production via dynamical Casimir effect at a dielectric-metal interface, with potential for higher yield than standard parametric down conversion.

Findings

Photon pairs generated through oscillating surface plasmon polaritons.

Emission yield can exceed that of spontaneous parametric down conversion.

Proposed interface design optimizes photon pair production.

Abstract

Emission of photon pairs by an interface of asymmetric dielectric and thin metal film excited by a normally falling plane wave is considered. The excitation causes oscillations in time of the phase velocity of surface plasmon polaritons in the interface. This leads to the dynamical Casimir effect - the generation of pairs of surface plasmon polariton quanta, which transfer to photons outside the interface. In case of a properly chosen interface, the yield of two-photon emission may exceed that of usual spontaneous parametric down conversion.