Electric Spaser in the Extreme Quantum Limit
Abstract
We consider theoretically the spaser that is excited electrically via a nanowire with ballistic quantum conductance. We show that, in the extreme quantum regime, i.e., for a single conductance-quantum nanowire, the spaser with a core made of common plasmonic metals, such as silver and gold, is fundamentally possible. For ballistic nanowires with multiple-quanta or nonquantized conductance, the performance of the spaser is enhanced in comparison with the extreme quantum limit. The electrically pumped spaser is promising as an optical source, nanoamplifier, and digital logic device for optoelectronic information processing with a speed of ∼100GHz to ∼100THz.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- March 2013
- DOI:
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1211.0366
- Bibcode:
- 2013PhRvL.110j6803L
- Keywords:
-
- 73.20.Mf;
- 42.50.Nn;
- 71.45.Gm;
- 73.23.-b;
- Collective excitations;
- Quantum optical phenomena in absorbing dispersive and conducting media;
- Exchange correlation dielectric and magnetic response functions plasmons;
- Electronic transport in mesoscopic systems;
- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics;
- Physics - Optics;
- Quantum Physics
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 1 figure