Continuously-tunable Cherenkov-radiation-based detectors via plasmon index control

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how plasmon-induced refractive index control in metal nanostructures enables continuously-tunable Cherenkov radiation, enhancing detection capabilities and allowing for dynamic analysis of particle velocities.

Contribution

It introduces a method for continuous tuning of Cherenkov radiation using plasmonic index control, expanding the functionality of nanostructure-based detectors.

Findings

Achieved continuous tuning of Cherenkov radiation intensity and velocity cutoff.

Enabled data correction through multi-detector-like analysis.

Reduced angle distortion by mitigating metallic absorption effects.

Abstract

A recent study [PRB 100, 075427 (2019)], finally, demonstrated plasmon-analog of refractive index enhancement in metal nanostructures, which has already been studied in atomic clouds for several decades. Here, we simply utilize this phenomenon for achieving continuously-tunable enhanced Cherenkov radiation in metal nanostructures. Beyond enabling Cherenkov radiation from slow-moving particles, or increasing its intensity, the phenomenon can be used in continuous-tuning the velocity cutoff of particles contributing to the Cherenkov radiation. More influentially, this allows a continuously-tunable analysis of the contributing particles as if the data is collected from many different detectors, which enables data correction. The phenomenon can also be integrated into lattice metal nanostructures, for continuous medium tuning, where a high density of photonic states is present and the threshold for the Cherenkov radiation can even be lifted. Additionally, vanishing absorption can heal radiation angle distortion effects caused by the metallic absorption.