Plasmons, from theoretical research to smart clothing
Luis Martín-Moreno, CSIC researcher at the Aragon Nanoscience and Materials Institute, INMA, a joint institute between CSIC and the University of Zaragoza, has published an article reviewing the field of artificial surface plasmons, which began in 2002 and now has practical applications, such as the creation of printed circuits for clothing. The article has been published in the Review of Modern Physics, the most prestigious scientific journal in the field of physics, and was also selected to appear on the cover.
Surface plasmons are a type of light that propagates on the surface of metals and are responsible for most nanophotonics applications. This science studies the interactions between light and matter on a nanometric scale. However, surface plasmons lose their remarkable ability to concentrate light in electromagnetic spectrum ranges other than the visible, such as the infrared or microwave.
In 2002, INMA researcher Luis Martín-Moreno, together with two collaborators, Francisco García-Vidal, of the Autonomous University of Madrid, and John Pendry, of Imperial College London, found that, by scratching certain metals in a certain way, they were able to obtain surface plasmons in the non-visible ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum.
This theoretical idea was quickly confirmed experimentally. Following further research in this area, the groups of Martín-Moreno and García-Vidal subsequently discovered the so-called “domino plasmons,” which have made it possible to create flexible metallic tapes that carry electromagnetic fields. These tapes are already being used as printed circuits embedded in clothing, allowing us to monitor our physiological data and connect sensors, phones, and other mobile devices.
The review article on the field of artificial surface plasmon photonics is signed by the researcher from the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon, Luis Martín-Moreno, together with collaborators from the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid and Nanjing (China).
Spoof surface plasmon photonics
Francisco J. García-Vidal, Antonio I. Fernández-Domínguez, Luis Martín-Moreno, Hao Chi Zhang, Wenxuan Tang, Ruwen Peng, and Tie Jun Cui
Rev. Mod. Phys. 94, 025004 – Published 20 May 2022
DOI: 10.1103/RevModPhys.94.025004
02/06/2022
