Course detail

Nanophotonics and Plasmonics

FSI-TNF-AAcad. year: 2025/2026

Principles of propagation of optical signals in nanostructures (e.g. devices and circuits) under diffraction limits, methods of their application. Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP) - the way, how to surpass diffraction limits. Generation, propagation and detection of SPP. Surface Plasmon Polaritons and metallic nanostructures - Plasmonics. Propagating SPP, their applications in sensorics. Localized SPP - local excitation of electromagnetic field, application in generation and detection of electromagnetic radiation, sensorics and local spectroscopy. Nanoantennas. Metamaterials and negative refraction index at optical frequencies, their application for perfect imaging.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. RNDr. Tomáš Šikola, CSc.

Department

Institute of Physical Engineering (ÚFI)

Offered to foreign students

Of all faculties

Entry knowledge

Elementary Physics, Theory of Electromagnetic Field, Quantum Physics, Solid State Physics.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The assessment of a student is made upon his performance in practice and quality of a discussion on topics selected at the examination (lecture notes allowed at preparation).

The presence of students at practice is obligatory and is monitored by the tutor. The way how to compensate missed practice lessons will be determined by the tutor depending on the extent and content of the missed lessons.

Aims

The goal is to give an overview of the methods providing the application of electromagnetic signals in the structures with dimensions below diffraction limit, especially on plasmonics as the major part of nanophotonics.

Students will learn the current status of a new field called Nanophotonics which will also be of assistance to them for the selection of their diploma and doctoral theses.

Study aids

PWP presentations.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Bohren C. F., Huffman D. R.: Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles, Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, 2006 (EN)
Kreibig U., Vollmer M.: Optical Properties of Metal Clusters, Springer Verlag, Berlin 1995. (EN)
Maier S. A.: Plasmonics: Fundamentals and Application, Springer 2007. (EN)

Recommended reading

Bohren C. F., Huffman D. R.: Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles, Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, 2006 (EN)
Maier S. A.: Plasmonics: Fundamentals and Application, Springer 2007. (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MPC-NCP Master's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme N-FIN-P Master's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. RNDr. Tomáš Šikola, CSc.

Syllabus

Introduction
Nanooptics, nanofotonics and plasmonics. History of plasmonics. Research topics in plasmonics. Applicatons of plasmonics: biosensors, plasmonic antennas. Numerical simulations.
Lecture I – Electrodynamics of materials
Propagation of electromagnetic waves in metals: dielectric function and complex conductivity of materials, complex index of refraction, Kramers-Kronig relations. Examples of polariton dispersion relations: bulk photon polaritons, bulk plasmon polaritons.
Lecture II – Dielectric function of metals
Drude model. Dielectric function of real metals and interband transitions. Drude-Lorentz model, examples: gold and silver.
Lecture III – Surface plasmon polaritons (SPP)
Propagation of electromagnetic waves at metal-dielectric interfaces: Surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) - single interface, multilayer systems. Application of SPP - planar waveguides, sensors . Thin film optics and SSP.
Lecture IV – Excitation, detection and imaging of SPP
Excitation of SSP by fast electrons. Excitation and detection of SSP by light (ATR, SNOM)
Lecture V – Localized plasmon polaritons (LSP)
Interaction of em wave with nanoparticles: Mie theory of scattering and absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a sphere. Quasi-static approximation. Scattering, absorption and exctiction cross-section. Approximation to more general object shapes (including apertures and voids). Mmethods of observation of LSP, coupling between LSP. Application of LSP - resonant plasmonic antennas.
Final lecture – new and advanced topics
Fano resonance: dimers, hybridisations, dark and bright modes, Plasmon Induced Transparency, an exaple: Nanoshell and Matryoshka-nanoshell
Plasmonic nanoantennas: manufacturing of nanoantennas, mapping nanoantennas, local enhancement electromagnetic field in vicinity of metallic particles or tips and antennas - surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and tips enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), respectively, luminiscence induced by a metallic tip (STL), lithography.
Phononics: surface phonon polaritons
Strong coupling: plasmon-exciton coupling, plasmon-phonon coupling
Metamaterials and negative refraction index at optical frequencies, their application for perfect imaging.

Exercise

20 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. RNDr. Tomáš Šikola, CSc.

Syllabus

The calculation of supportive theoretical examples takes place during the whole semester.

Computer-assisted exercise

6 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. RNDr. Tomáš Šikola, CSc.

Syllabus

see seminars