Laser-induced transfer of metallic nanodroplets for plasmonics and metamaterial applications

A novel approach, to our knowledge, for the fabrication of metallic micro- and nanostructures based on femtosecond laser-induced transfer of metallic nanodroplets is developed. The controllable fabrication of high-quality spherical gold micro- and nanoparticles with radius of 100-800 nm is realized. In combination with the two-photon polymerization technique, this approach provides unique possibilities for the realization of plasmonic components and metamaterials. Polymer woodpile structures filled with gold nanoparticles are demonstrated. Scattering of surface plasmon polaritons on an individual spherical gold nanoparticle fabricated by the proposed method is investigated. The obtained results are supported by a numerical modeling using the Green's tensor approach. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America