An Overview on the Plasmonic Laser

Abstract

A spaser or plasmonic laser aims to confine light at a subwavelength scale well below Rayleigh\'s diffraction limit of light by storing part of the light energy in electron oscillations called surface plasmon polaritons.[22] [23] [24] [25][26]. In 2003, Mark Stockman and David J. Bergman were the first to describe the phenomenon.[27] The abbreviation for surface plasmon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation is calledspaser. In 2009 saw the creation of a 44-nanometer-diameter nanoparticle with a gold core encircled by a dyed silica gain medium by Purdue, Norfolk State and Cornell researchers [28], a nanowire on a silver screen by a Berkeley group [22] and a semiconductor layer of 90 nm encircled by electrically pumped silver by groups at Eindhoven University of Technology and Arizona State University. These devices were the first of their kind.[25] The Purdue-Norfolk State-Cornell team demonstrated the restricted plasmonic mode, while the Berkeley and Eindhoven-Arizona State teams demonstrated lasing in the so-called plasmonic gap mode. In 2018, a team from Northwestern University demonstrated a tunable nanolaser that maintains its exceptional mode quality by using hybrid quadrupole plasmons as an optical feedback mechanism.[29] The spaser, a possible nanoscale optical field generator, is being studied in several world-class labs. Microscopy, single-molecule biological sensing, ultra-fast photonic nano circuit manufacture, and nanoscale patterning are just a few of the many uses for spasers.[26]

Introduction

A laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is a device that emits coherent, monochromatic, and highly collimated light through stimulated emission. First demonstrated in 1960 by Theodore Maiman, the laser was built on theoretical work by Einstein, Townes, Schawlow, Basov, and Prokhorov. Lasers differ from ordinary light sources due to their spatial and temporal coherence, which allow focusing to very small spots, long-distance beam travel, and the creation of ultrashort pulses.

Lasers operate based on quantum energy levels, involving processes of absorption, spontaneous emission, and stimulated emission. A population inversion is required for stimulated emission to dominate, which is achieved through pumping (light or electrical excitation). Practical laser systems commonly use three- or four-level energy structures, with four-level systems enabling continuous operation.

A typical laser consists of a gain medium, pumping source, and optical resonator (two mirrors). The resonator amplifies coherent photons, producing a narrow, intense beam. Laser output may be continuous-wave or pulsed, with some laboratory systems reaching extremely high peak powers and generating femtosecond pulses.

Lasers are used widely in industry (cutting, welding, lithography), medicine, communication (fiber optics), consumer electronics (CD/DVD, printers, scanners), scientific research, military targeting, and entertainment. Semiconductor lasers have even replaced LEDs in some lighting applications due to their high radiance.

The evolution of the field began with the maser (microwave amplification) and expanded to optical frequencies, eventually including infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray lasers. Naturally occurring coherent emissions, like astrophysical masers, also exist.

A recent development is the plasmonic laser (spaser), which confines light at scales smaller than the diffraction limit by coupling photons with surface plasmons. Since its theoretical proposal in 2003, various nanoscale spasers have been demonstrated, offering potential applications in nanoscale imaging, sensing, ultrafast photonics, and nanolithography.

Conclusion

In summary, by storing a portion of the light energy in electron oscillations known as surface plasmon polaritons, a spaser or plasmonic laser seeks to confine light at a subwavelength scale far below Rayleigh\'s diffraction limit of light.[22][23] [24] [25] [26]. The phenomena was initially described by David J. Bergman and Mark Stockman in 2003.[27] The term spaser is an acronym for surface plasmon amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Numerous top-tier laboratories are investigating the spaser, a potential nanoscale optical field generator. Spasers have a wide range of applications, including nanoscale patterning, ultra-fast photonic nano circuit manufacturing, single-molecule biological sensing, and microscopy.[26]

References

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Copyright © 2025 Muhammad Arif Bin Jalil. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.