Nanophotonics
Chapter One
Introduction
1.1 NANOPHOTONICS-AN EXCITING FRONTIER
IN NANOTECHNOLOGY
Nanophotonics is an exciting new frontier that has captured the imaginations of
people worldwide. It deals with the interaction of light with matter on a nanometer
size scale. By adding a new dimension to nanoscale science and technology,
nanophotonics provides challenges for fundamental research and creates opportunities
for new technologies. The interest in nanoscience is a realization of a famous
statement by Feynman that "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" (Feynman,
1961). He was pointing out that if one takes a length scale of one micrometer and
divides it in nanometer segments, which are a billionth of a meter, one can imagine
how many segments and compartments become available to manipulate.
We are living in an age of "nano-mania." Everything nano is considered to be
exciting and worthwhile. Many countries have started Nanotechnology Initiatives.
A detailed report for the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative has been published
by the National Research Council (NRC Report, 2002). While na ... read full excerpt from Nanophotonics ebook
