Active modulation of wavelength and radiation direction of fluorescence via liquid crystal-tuned surface plasmons

Plasmonic elements which can tune light in micro-nano dimension have attracted much attention nowadays. However, available approaches for externally manipulating surface plasmons (SPs) are still in great demand. Here, we described an effective approach to modulate SPs by voltage signal. Through adding a liquid crystal cell with a dye layer to the Kretschmann configuration, the wavelength and the radiation direction of the fluorescence of dye can be modulated continuously and reversibly by changing applied voltages. This design has great application potentials in the development of tunable luminescent devices and smart plasmonic elements. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4790826]