An atlas of photonic and plasmonic materials for cathodoluminescence microscopy

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive atlas of cathodoluminescence spectra and intensities for various photonic and plasmonic materials, combining experimental data and simulations to aid material analysis and device design.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed atlas of CL spectra for numerous materials, integrating experimental measurements and Monte Carlo simulations for the first time.

Findings

Provides baseline CL spectra for multiple materials

Characterizes electron penetration and energy deposition

Facilitates material selection for photonics and plasmonics

Abstract

Cathodoluminescence (CL) microscopy has emerged as a powerful tool for investigating the optical properties of materials at the nanoscale, offering unique insights into the behavior of photonic and plasmonic materials under electron excitation. We introduce an atlas of bulk CL spectra and intensity for a broad range of materials used in photonics and plasmonics. Through a combination of experimental CL microscopy and Monte Carlo simulations, we characterize spectra and intensity of coherent and incoherent CL, electron penetration depth and energy deposition, offering a foundational reference for interpreting CL signals and understanding material behavior under electron excitation. Our atlas captures CL signals across a wide range of materials, offering valuable insight into intrinsic emission properties for informed material selection and device design in photonics and plasmonics.