My research has extensively explored the exciting frontier of nanophotonics and plasmonics, focusing on engineering light at the nanoscale for a variety of advanced applications. A central theme in my work involves designing and utilizing nanoantennas to control and enhance light-matter interactions. For instance, I’ve demonstrated the creation of superabsorbing, artificial metal films by constructing them from semiconductor nanoantennas, showcasing a novel way to manipulate light absorption beyond conventional limits. I have also investigated the intricate photonic-plasmonic coupling between gallium arsenide (GaAs) single nanowires and optical nanoantennas, which allows for precise control of light and its interaction with matter. This work extended to developing photonic-plasmonic coupled nanoantennas for polarization-controlled multispectral nanofocusing, enabling unprecedented control over light’s focus and polarization at the nanoscale.
Beyond fundamental light manipulation, my research has delved into nonlinear optical phenomena, specifically second-harmonic generation (SHG). I’ve explored how SHG scales with the size of gold nanoparticles and demonstrated significantly enhanced second-harmonic generation from novel InAs nano-wing structures grown on silicon. My work also includes generating second harmonic radiation from sub-stoichiometric silicon nitride thin films, highlighting new material platforms for nonlinear optics. Furthermore, I’ve developed and characterized vertical III-V V-shaped membranes epitaxially grown on patterned Si(001) substrates, showing their enhanced light scattering properties. Collectively, my research has contributed to pushing the boundaries of nanoscale optics, providing foundational knowledge and practical designs for next-generation optoelectronic devices, sensors, and energy technologies. the boundaries of nanoscale optics, providing foundational knowledge and practical designs for next-generation optoelectronic devices, sensors, and energy technologies.
These projects have been funded partly by Boston University under a program supported by AFOSR – Air Force Office of Scientific Research Program and by Stanford University.
Peer-reviewed publications
Conference proceedings
Integration of metallic nanostructures on nanowires for modification of their optical properties
A. Casadei, E. Alarcon-Llado, E. F. Pecora, J. Trevino, C. Forestiere, D. Ruffer, E. Russo-Averchi, F. Matteini, G. Tutuncuoglu, M. Heiss, L. Dal Negro, A. Fontcuberta i Morral
Frontiers in Nanophotonics, CSF Conference 2015
Second harmonic excitation spectroscopy in studies of Fano-type coupling in plasmonic arrays
G. F. Walsh, J. Tervino, E. F. Pecora, L. Dal Negro
SPIE Optics + Photonics 2015
Engineering light coupling in single nanowire with metal nano-antennas
A. Casadei, J. Trevino, E. F. Pecora, E. Alarcò- Lladò, D. Ruffer, E. Russo-Averchi, G. Tutuncuoglu, F. Matteini, C. Forestiere, L. Dal Negro, A. Fontcuberta i Morral
International Conference on One dimensional Nanomaterials ICON 2013
Second-harmonic generation from plasmonic nanoantennas and arrays
A. Capretti, C. Forestiere, E. F. Pecora, G. Walsh, J. Trevino, S. Minissale, L. Dal Negro, G. Miano
The International Conference on Surface Plasmon Photonics SPP6
Second-harmonic generation in substoichiometric silicon nitride layers
E. F. Pecora, A. Capretti, G. Miano, L. Dal Negro
Bulletin of the American Physical Society, vol. 58, V1.00119