Nonlinear Effects in Plasmonic Systems

This chapter discusses some of the nonlinear phenomena closely related to the interplay of light with metallic objects, generally termed nonlinear plasmonics. The chapter is organized as follows: The first section discusses physical mechanisms, responsible for nonlinearities in metal structures, emphasizing the difference between local and nonlocal nonlinearities, although they are intermix when the predominant effects are occurring near interfaces. The second section presents nonlinear surface plasmon polariton (SPP) propagation, when the nonlinearity is either stemming from the metal or enhanced by the metallic waveguide structure. It also discusses nonlinear modes, plasmon solitons, and nonlinear waveguide devices. The final section talks about nonlinearities enhanced by local surface plasmons within or in the vicinity of nanoparticles and nanoantennas.