[en] The paper investigates the influence of an external magnetic field on light propagation through a magneto-optical biaxial crystal. It has been demonstrated that the application of a magnetic field results in the splitting and reconnection of an isofrequency near the self-intersection point and thus it leads to the disappearance of conical refraction in a crystal. This effect makes it possible to control light propagation by means of a magnetic field. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the diffraction divergence of a beam is suppressed in a homogeneous magneto-optical biaxial crystal. (paper)

[en] The results of experimental and theoretical investigation of planar two-dimensional (2D) samples of plasmon structures are presented. The samples represent a 2D lattice of gold nanoparticles embedded in a thin dielectric layer and are studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical methods. Absorption bands associated with the excitation of various surface plasmon resonances (SPR) are interpreted. It is found that the choice of the mutual orientation of the polarization plane and the edge of the unit cell of the 2D lattice determines the spectral position of the lattice surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) related to the lattice period. It is shown that the interaction of p- and s-polarized light with a 2D lattice of nanoparticles is described by the dipole–dipole interaction between nanoparticles embedded in a medium with effective permittivity. Analysis of the spectra of ellipsometric parameters allows one to determine the amplitude and phase anisotropy of transmission, which is a consequence of the imperfection of the 2D lattice of samples.

[en] The interaction of linearly polarized light with photonic crystals based on bulk and thin-film synthetic opals is studied. Experimental transmission spectra and spectra showing the polarization state of light transmitted through opals are discussed. A change in polarization is found for waves experiencing Bragg diffraction from systems of crystallographic planes of the opal lattice. It is shown that the polarization plane of the incident linearly polarized wave at the exit from photonic crystals can be considerably rotated. In addition, incident linearly polarized light can be transformed to elliptically polarized light with the turned major axis of the polarization ellipse. Analysis of polarization states of transmitted light by using the transfer-matrix theory and homogenization theory revealed good agreement between calculated and experimental spectra.

[en] A one-dimensional photonic crystal with termination by a noble metal film—a plasmonic photonic-crystal slab—is theoretically analysed for its optical response at the variation of the dielectric permittivity of an analyte. A sharp attenuation peak associated with a ‘noble metal-visualized’ Bloch surface wave is observed due to plasmon absorption in the metal. We investigate the sensing performance of the slab and show that it is tolerant to the variation of probing conditions and the slab's structural parameters. As a consequence, the considered sensor exhibits an enhanced sensitivity and good robustness in comparison with conventional surface-plasmon and Bloch surface wave sensors. (paper)

[en] Methods of fabrication of precisely adjusted surface structures are indispensable to development of new technologies. Different surface structuring techniques resulting in solitary nanobumps, random surface structures and laser induced periodic surface structures were in focus in the past. Here we consider a physical model and numerical simulation allowing understanding a high field plasmonics formation process of a smooth periodic perturbation of surface on a metal film with a period equal to the surface plasmon-polariton wavelength at a frequency of laser wave. Such surface structure is a hologram produced by thermomechanical response to interference between an incident laser wave, a reflected laser wave, and an electromagnetic field in the running plasmon-polariton wave. The following laser irradiation of the manufactured hologram generates a new plasmon-polariton wave identical to that used for formation of the hologram. (paper)

[en] Dielectric-loaded surface plasmon−polariton waveguides (DLSPPWs) are a practically valuable type of plasmonic waveguide. The properties of DLSPPWs at telecommunication wavelengths have been studied in detail. However, the efficient optical excitation of DLSPPWs in the visible spectral range has still not been realized. In this work, we present the results of our experimental investigations of DLSPPWs in the visible spectral range. In addition, a new configuration for the excitation and detection of the DLSPPW mode has been proposed and realized. The propagation of plasmon wave up to a distance of 45 µm in the DLSPPW has been demonstrated. (letter)