Abstract
Active nanoplasmonic metamaterials support bright and dark modes that compete for gain. Using a Maxwell-Bloch approach incorporating Langevin noise we study the lasing dynamics in an active nanofishnet structure. We report that lasing of the bright negative-index mode is possible if the higher- dark mode is discriminated by gain, spatially or spectrally. The nonlinear competition during the transient phase is followed by steady-state emission where bright and dark modes can coexist. We analyze the influence of pump intensity and polarization and explore methods for mode control.
- Received 17 December 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.85.201406
©2012 American Physical Society