WAVELENGTH TUNABILITY OF THE SURFACE-PLASMON RESONANCE OF NANOSIZE METAL COLLOIDS IN GLASS

It is demonstrated that the wavelength of the surface plasmon resonanc e of nanosize metal colloids embedded in silica can be changed by the alloying of metal ions using sequential implantation of different meta l elements. Cu and Ag ions were sequentially implanted in silica to do ses of 6 and 12 x 10(16) ions/cm2. Both Ag- and Cu-rich metal alloy co lloids approximately 20 nm in diameter were formed in the silica matri x. The position of the surface plasmon resonance frequency was shifted to a frequency that depends on the elements implanted and their relat ive concentrations. These results have implications for the tunability of non-linear optical waveguide devices and switches.