Plasmons

Plasmons are electromagnetic waves that travel along the surface of a metal or semiconductor. They are created when electrons interact with metal or semiconductor surfaces, forming a collective oscillation of charge that travels along the surface. Plasmons have opened up a range of applications in the fields of optical communication, sensing, imaging, and energy harvesting. For example, they can be used to modulate light over short distances in a highly efficient way, to detect minute changes in molecules and surfaces, and to harvest energy from light to power small devices. This makes them an important tool for a variety of fields, from nanotechnology and biophotonics to medical diagnosis, renewable energy, and quantum computing.