This paper demonstrates a high-Q microcavity for surface plasmons that is fabricated by coating the surface of high-Q silica microresonator with a thin layer of noble metal. This structure enables room-temperature operation with a Q-factor of around 1380 in the near infrared for surface plasmon modes. The work also includes a coupling scheme where a tapered optical fibre is in near-contact with the cavity, which provides a convenient way for selectively exciting and probing confined plasmon modes.
- Bumki Min
- Eric Ostby
- Kerry Vahala
