Plasmonic Functionality of Optical Fiber Tips: Mechanisms, Fabrications, and Applications
Bobo Du,
Yunfan Xu,
Lei Zhang,
Yanpeng Zhang
Affiliations
Bobo Du
Key Laboratory of Physical Electronics and Devices of Ministry of Education and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Information Photonic Technique, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Yunfan Xu
Key Laboratory of Physical Electronics and Devices of Ministry of Education and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Information Photonic Technique, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Lei Zhang
Key Laboratory of Physical Electronics and Devices of Ministry of Education and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Information Photonic Technique, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Yanpeng Zhang
Key Laboratory of Physical Electronics and Devices of Ministry of Education and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Information Photonic Technique, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Optical fiber tips with the flat end-facets functionalized take the special advantages of easy fabrication, compactness, and ready-integration among the community of optical fiber devices. Combined with plasmonic structures, the fiber tips draw a significant growth of interest addressing diverse functions. This review aims to present and summarize the plasmonic functionality of optical fiber tips with the current state of the art. Firstly, the mechanisms of plasmonic phenomena are introduced in order to illustrate the tip-compatible plasmonic nanostructures. Then, the strategies of plasmonic functionalities on fiber tips are analyzed and compared. Moreover, the classical applications of plasmonic fiber tips are reviewed. Finally, the challenges and prospects for future opportunities are discussed.