PLAISIR · PLAsmonic Innovative Sensing in the IR

The aim of this project is to transfer the latest advances in plasmonics achieved in the visible to the mid-IR. The main objectives of the project are (1) to look at the fundamental limits and develop new simulation tools for plasmons in the mid-IR, (2) to develop plasmon enhanced surfaces for spectroscopic chemical sensing (SCS), and (3) to use plasmon enhanced surfaces for light harvesting technology. The result of the project will include new software, SCS surfaces for infra-red spectroscopy and smart, cheaper, mid-IR photodetectors. The term plasmonics refers to the investigation, development and application of enhanced electromagnetic properties of metallic (nano-) structures and is starting to find applications in a range of photonic devices such as VCSELs and high speed photodetectors. While the promise of plasmonics photonic components in the visible and NIR is very promising, this project will exploit the huge potential for plasmonics in the IR (i.e. the 1.6-16 µm range) that could be truly disruptive.In the mid-IR (a) plasmon losses are much lower than in the visible so the range of possible devices is much larger (b) this area is largely unexplored for applied plasmonics, and (c) IR technology is undergoing a quiet revolution due to key advances such as such room temperature Quantum Cascade Lasers and miniature Fourier transform spectrometers (FTS). This project will help launch the IR revolution by enabling both SCS surfaces and better mid-IR detectors.PLAISIR will develop SCS with sensitivity more than 200 times larger than that of a simple surface. This will be combined with microfluidics and integrated into a FTS. The project will work with both InGaAs and HgCdTe photodetectors, by using LHT to improve their noise performance, and tailor their spectral and polarization response. This project includes 4 major actors in fundamental and applied plasmon research, 3 SMEs and an external advisory board made up of strategic end users and key academics