arXiv subjects

Alexander V. Uskov

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander V. Uskov.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Photoelectron emission from plasmonic nanoparticles: Comparison between surface and volume photoelectric effects

We study emission of photoelectrons from plasmonic nanoparticles into surrounding matrix. We consider two mechanisms of the photoelectric effect from nanoparticles - surface and volume ones, and use models of these two effects which allow us to obtain analytical results for the photoelectron emission rates from nanoparticle. Calculations have been done for the step potential at surface of spherical nanoparticle, and the simple model for the hot electron cooling have been used. We highlight the effect of the discontinuity of the dielectric permittivity at the nanoparticle boundary in the surface mechanism, which leads to substantial (by 5 times) increase of photoelectron emission rate from nanoparticle compared to the case when such discontinuity is absent. For plasmonic nanoparticle, a comparison of two mechanisms of the photoeffect was done for the first time and showed that surface photoeffect, at least, does not concede the volume one, which agrees with results for the flat metal surface first formulated by Tamm and Schubin in their pioneering development of quantum-mechanical theory of photoeffect in 1931. In accordance with our calculations, this predominance of the surface effect is a result of effective cooling of hot carriers, during their propagation from volume of the nanoparticle to its surface in the scenario of the volume mechanism. Taking into account both mechanisms is essential in development of devices based on the photoelectric effect and in usage of hot electrons from plasmonic nanoantenna.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2013

Enhanced electron photoemission by collective lattice resonances in plasmonic nanoparticle-array photodetectors and solar cells

We propose to use collective lattice resonances in plasmonic nanoparticle arrays to enhance photoelectron emission in Schottky-barrier photodetectors and solar cells. We show that the interaction of lattice resonances (the Rayleigh anomaly) and individual particle excitations (localized surface plasmon resonances) leads to stronger local field enhancement and significant increase of the photocurrent compared to the case when only individual particle excitations are present. The results can be used to design new photodetectors with highly selective, tunable spectral response, able to detect photons with the energy below the semiconductor bandgap, and to develop solar cells with increased efficiency.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2013

Electron Photoemission in Plasmonic Nanoparticle Arrays: Analysis of Collective Resonances and Embedding Effects

We theoretically study the characteristics of photoelectron emission in plasmonic nanoparticle arrays. Nanoparticles are partially embedded in a semiconductor, forming Schottky barriers at metal/semiconductor interfaces through which photoelectrons can tunnel from the nanoparticle into the semiconductor; photodetection in the infrared range, where photon energies are below the semiconductor band gap (insufficient for band-to-band absorption in semiconductor), is therefore possible. The nanoparticles are arranged in a sparse rectangular lattice so that the wavelength of the lattice-induced Rayleigh anomalies can overlap the wavelength of the localized surface plasmon resonance of the individual particles, bringing about collective effects from the nanoparticle array. Using full-wave numerical simulations, we analyze the effects of lattice constant, embedding depth, and refractive index step between the semiconductor layer and an adjacent transparent conductive oxide layer. We show that the presence of refractive index mismatch between media surrounding the nanoparticles disrupts the formation of a narrow absorption peak associated with the Rayleigh anomaly, so the role of collective lattice effects in the formation of plasmonic resonance is diminished. We also show that 5 to 20-times increase of photoemission can be achieved on embedding of nanoparticles without taking into account dynamics of ballistic electrons. The results obtained can be used to increase efficiency of plasmon-based photodetectors and photovoltaic devices. The results may provide clues to designing an experiment where the contributions of surface and volume photoelectric effects to the overall photocurrent would be defined.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2013

Broadening of plasmonic resonance due to electron collisions with nanoparticle boundary: quantum-mechanical consideration

We present a quantum mechanical approach to calculate broadening of plasmonic resonances in metallic nanostructures due to collisions of electrons with the surface of the structure. The approach is applicable if the characteristic size of the structure is much larger than the de Broglie electron wavelength in the metal. The approach can be used in studies of plasmonic properties of both single nanoparticles and arrays of nanoparticles.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2011

Photoemission from metal nanoparticles

A.Brodsky and Yu.Gurevitch approach is discussed and generalized for photoemission from metal nano-particles taking into account the excitation of localized plasmon resonance (LPR) and changes of electromagnetic field (EMF) and conduction electron mass in the metal - environment interface. New result is the increase of photo-emission current several time respectively to the case of continues metal film due to increase of intensity of EMF near the surface of nanoparticles and also due to surface phenomena mentioned above. Results can be applied for development new photodetectors, photo energy converters (solar cells) and for more studies of photoemission from metal nanoparticles.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2007

Dynamics of light propagation in spatiotemporal dielectric structures

Propagation, transmission and reflection properties of linearly polarized plane waves and arbitrarily short electromagnetic pulses in one-dimensional dispersionless dielectric media possessing an arbitrary space-time dependence of the refractive index are studied by using a two-component, highly symmetric version of Maxwell's equations. The use of any slow varying amplitude approximation is avoided. Transfer matrices of sharp nonstationary interfaces are calculated explicitly, together with the amplitudes of all secondary waves produced in the scattering. Time-varying multilayer structures and spatiotemporal lenses in various configurations are investigated analytically and numerically in a unified approach. Several new effects are reported, such as pulse compression, broadening and spectral manipulation of pulses by a spatiotemporal lens, and the closure of the forbidden frequency gaps with the subsequent opening of wavenumber bandgaps in a generalized Bragg reflector.

physics.optics↗