dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaGallium nanoparticles grow where light is
| Authors | K. F. MacDonald, W. S. Brocklesby, V. I. Emelyanov, V. A. Fedotov, S. Pochon, K. J. Ross, G. Stevens, N. I. Zheludev |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0105042 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0105042 |
| DOI | 10.1063/1.1456260 |
| Journal | Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 1643 (2002) |
Abstract
The study of metallic nanoparticles has a long tradition in linear and nonlinear optics [1], with current emphasis on the ultrafast dynamics, size, shape and collective effects in their optical response [2-6]. Nanoparticles also represent the ultimate confined geometry:high surface-to-volume ratios lead to local field enhancements and a range of dramatic modifications of the material's properties and phase diagram [7-9]. Confined gallium has become a subject of special interest as the light-induced structural phase transition recently observed in gallium films [10, 11] has allowed for the demonstration of all-optical switching devices that operate at low laser power [12]. Spontaneous self-assembly has been the main approach to the preparation of nanoparticles (for a review see 13). Here we report that light can dramatically influence the nanoparticle self-assembly process: illumination of a substrate exposed to a beam of gallium atoms results in the formation of nanoparticles with a relatively narrow size distribution. Very low light intensities, below the threshold for thermally-induced evaporation, exert considerable control over nanoparticle formation through non-thermal atomic desorption induced by electronic excitation.
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"abstract": "The study of metallic nanoparticles has a long tradition in linear and\nnonlinear optics [1], with current emphasis on the ultrafast dynamics, size,\nshape and collective effects in their optical response [2-6]. Nanoparticles\nalso represent the ultimate confined geometry:high surface-to-volume ratios\nlead to local field enhancements and a range of dramatic modifications of the\nmaterial\u0027s properties and phase diagram [7-9]. Confined gallium has become a\nsubject of special interest as the light-induced structural phase transition\nrecently observed in gallium films [10, 11] has allowed for the demonstration\nof all-optical switching devices that operate at low laser power [12].\nSpontaneous self-assembly has been the main approach to the preparation of\nnanoparticles (for a review see 13). Here we report that light can dramatically\ninfluence the nanoparticle self-assembly process: illumination of a substrate\nexposed to a beam of gallium atoms results in the formation of nanoparticles\nwith a relatively narrow size distribution. Very low light intensities, below\nthe threshold for thermally-induced evaporation, exert considerable control\nover nanoparticle formation through non-thermal atomic desorption induced by\nelectronic excitation.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0105042",
"authors": [
"K. F. MacDonald",
"W. S. Brocklesby",
"V. I. Emelyanov",
"V. A. Fedotov",
"S. Pochon",
"K. J. Ross",
"G. Stevens",
"N. I. Zheludev"
],
"categories": [
"physics.optics",
"physics.gen-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1063/1.1456260",
"journal_ref": "Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 1643 (2002)",
"title": "Gallium nanoparticles grow where light is",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0105042"
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