Plasmonic mediated nucleation of resonant nano-cavities in metallic layers

Abstract

We predict plasmonic mediated nucleation of pancake shaped resonant nano-cavities in metallic layers that are penetrable to laser fields. The underlying physics is that the cavity provides a narrow plasmonic resonance that maximizes its polarizability in an external field. The resonance yields a significant energy gain making the formation of such cavities highly favorable. Possible implications include nano-optics and generation of the dielectric bits in conductive films that underlie the existing optical recording phase change technology.