Nanophotonics and Plasmonics (FSI-TNF-A)

Academic year 2025/2026
Supervisor: prof. RNDr. Tomáš Šikola, CSc.  
Supervising institute: ÚFI all courses guaranted by this institute
Teaching language: English
Course type: departmental course
Aims of the course unit:
 
Learning outcomes and competences:
 
Prerequisites:
 
Course contents:
 
Teaching methods and criteria:
 
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes:
 
Controlled participation in lessons:
 
Type of course unit:
    Lecture  13 × 2 hrs. optionally                  
    Exercise  10 × 2 hrs. compulsory                  
    Computer-assisted exercise  3 × 2 hrs. compulsory                  
Course curriculum:
    Lecture Introduction
Nanooptics, nanofotonics and plasmonics. History of plasmonics. Research topics in plasmonics. Applicatons of plasmonics: biosensors, plasmonic antennas. Numerical simulations.
Lecture I – Electrodynamics of materials
Propagation of electromagnetic waves in metals: dielectric function and complex conductivity of materials, complex index of refraction, Kramers-Kronig relations. Examples of polariton dispersion relations: bulk photon polaritons, bulk plasmon polaritons.
Lecture II – Dielectric function of metals
Drude model. Dielectric function of real metals and interband transitions. Drude-Lorentz model, examples: gold and silver.
Lecture III – Surface plasmon polaritons (SPP)
Propagation of electromagnetic waves at metal-dielectric interfaces: Surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) - single interface, multilayer systems. Application of SPP - planar waveguides, sensors . Thin film optics and SSP.
Lecture IV – Excitation, detection and imaging of SPP
Excitation of SSP by fast electrons. Excitation and detection of SSP by light (ATR, SNOM)
Lecture V – Localized plasmon polaritons (LSP)
Interaction of em wave with nanoparticles: Mie theory of scattering and absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a sphere. Quasi-static approximation. Scattering, absorption and exctiction cross-section. Approximation to more general object shapes (including apertures and voids). Mmethods of observation of LSP, coupling between LSP. Application of LSP - resonant plasmonic antennas.
Final lecture – new and advanced topics
Fano resonance: dimers, hybridisations, dark and bright modes, Plasmon Induced Transparency, an exaple: Nanoshell and Matryoshka-nanoshell
Plasmonic nanoantennas: manufacturing of nanoantennas, mapping nanoantennas, local enhancement electromagnetic field in vicinity of metallic particles or tips and antennas - surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and tips enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), respectively, luminiscence induced by a metallic tip (STL), lithography.
Phononics: surface phonon polaritons
Strong coupling: plasmon-exciton coupling, plasmon-phonon coupling
Metamaterials and negative refraction index at optical frequencies, their application for perfect imaging.

    Exercise The calculation of supportive theoretical examples takes place during the whole semester.
    Computer-assisted exercise see seminars
Literature - fundamental:
1. Maier S. A.: Plasmonics: Fundamentals and Application, Springer 2007.
3. Bohren C. F., Huffman D. R.: Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles, Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, 2006
4. Kreibig U., Vollmer M.: Optical Properties of Metal Clusters, Springer Verlag, Berlin 1995.
Literature - recommended:
1. Maier S. A.: Plasmonics: Fundamentals and Application, Springer 2007.
2. Bohren C. F., Huffman D. R.: Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles, Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, 2006
The study programmes with the given course:
Programme Study form Branch Spec. Final classification   Course-unit credits     Obligation     Level     Year     Semester  
C-AKR-P full-time study CZS -- Cr,Ex 4 Elective 1 1 W
N-FIN-P full-time study --- no specialisation -- Cr,Ex 4 Compulsory-optional 2 1 W
MPC-NCP full-time study --- no specialisation -- Cr,Ex 4 Compulsory-optional 2 1 W
N-ENG-Z visiting student --- no specialisation -- Cr,Ex 4 Recommended course 2 1 W