"Intertwined effects in systems with plasmonic and magnetic properties..."
Subwavelength composite materials constitute an interesting path towards the development of structures with “designed” optical properties, since the interaction of light with them will be affected by the properties of all the constituents.
In our research we model, fabricate and study systems composed of both noble and ferromagnetic metals (magnetoplasmonic systems).
Noble metals have intense and narrow plasmon resonances but lack magnetooptical (MO) activity. On the other hand, ferromagnetic metals are MO active but their plasmon resonances are weak and broad.
We combine both kinds of materials in smart structures intending to obtain systems which simultaneously exhibit plasmon resonances and MO activity. This way, we can demonstrate that, in such systems, it is possible both to enhance the magneto-optical (MO) activity of the system via surface plasmon excitation, and to modulate the plasmon properties via application of a magnetic field.
