The spelling of the word "plasmonic" can be explained by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Plasmonic is pronounced as [plæzˈmɒnɪk] where "pl" sounds as [pl], "a" is pronounced as [æ], "z" as [z], "m" like [m] and "o" as [ɒ]. The suffix "-ic" which indicates the property or behavior of something is pronounced as [ɪk]. Plasmonic refers to the study of the collective electron oscillations in metallic structures and it has become an important topic of research in the field of nanotechnology.
Plasmonic refers to a branch of physics that deals with the behavior and manipulation of plasmons. Plasmons are collective excitations of electrons in a material that propagate as waves, analogous to light waves. This field blends the principles of optics and electronics, focusing on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and nanostructured materials.
In a more specific sense, plasmonic refers to the exploitation and application of these plasmons for various purposes. This includes the design and engineering of nanostructures to control and manipulate plasmonic effects, such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and enhanced light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. Plasmonic devices and systems utilize the unique properties of plasmons to enhance light absorption, scattering, and confinement, enabling advancements in areas such as sensing, imaging, communication, and energy conversion.
One important aspect of plasmonic research is the ability to control the propagation and confinement of plasmons by exploiting the interaction with metal nanoparticles or nanostructured surfaces. This control can be achieved by engineering the size, shape, composition, and arrangement of these nanostructures. The electromagnetic field confinement and enhancement offered by plasmonic structures allow for precise manipulation of light at subwavelength scales, overcoming the limitations imposed by conventional optics.
In summary, plasmonic encompasses the study, design, and application of plasmons and their interactions with nanostructured materials for various technological and scientific advancements.
The word "plasmonic" derives from the noun "plasmon" which first appeared in scientific literature in the early 20th century. The term "plasmon" was coined by the physicist A. Smekal in 1930 based on the German word "Plasma" (meaning "moldable substance" or "formed thing") and the suffix "-on" (originating from "Quantum" and used to indicate quanta or particles). The concept of plasmons refers to collective oscillations of electrons in a solid or metal. The adjective "plasmonic" is derived from this noun, describing phenomena or properties related to plasmons, typically in the context of nanophotonics and the interaction of light with metallic nanostructures.