Nanophotonics is a subfield of photonics and nanotechnology that investigates the behavior of light and its interaction with nanoscale matter, utilizing structures and phenomena on the order of or smaller than the wavelength of light to control and manipulate light for diverse applications.
Ontological type
Core Phenomena
Application Domains
Enabling Materials
Quantum-Confinement Foundations
1967 - 1997
Cavity-Plasmon Hybridization
1998 - 2011
Engineered Nanophotonic Interfaces
2012 - 2023
Quantum-Confinement Foundations era
D. Maystre [1] was active at The University of Sydney [3] and Aix-Marseille Université [4] during this era. His key contribution from the 1982 paper Multicoated gratings: a differential formalism applicable in the entire optical region [6] was the development of a differential formalism for multicoated gratings across the optical region, enabling quantitative modeling and design of nanoscale optical responses. J. Chandezon [2] was active at Université Clermont Auvergne [5] during this era. His key contribution from the 1982 paper Multicoated gratings: a differential formalism applicable in the entire optical region [6] provided a differential formalism that underpinned rigorous wave-propagation formalisms and enabled foundational insights for nanoscale light manipulation in this era.
Cavity-Plasmon Hybridization era
Alain Dereux [1] is a leading figure in nanophotonics during the cavity-plasmon hybridization era, with affiliations at Université Paris Cité [3] and Utrecht University [4]. His key contributions include the works Surface plasmon subwavelength optics [7] and Squeezing the Optical Near-Field Zone by Plasmon Coupling of Metallic Nanoparticles [8], which advanced deterministic light–matter control by exploiting plasmon confinement for subwavelength field localization and near-field engineering in this era. Thomas W. Ebbesen [2] is a central figure in this era, with affiliations at Princeton University [5] and the University of Massachusetts Amherst [6]. His sole listed contribution in the era is the paper Surface plasmon subwavelength optics [7], whose exploration of plasmonic confinement underpins the design of nanoscale devices and waveguide integration central to this era.
Engineered Nanophotonic Interfaces era
Osman M. Bakr [1], associated with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology [3] and Columbia University [4] during the Engineered Nanophotonic Interfaces era. He contributed to stabilizing and tuning perovskite nanocrystal emitters, as seen in all-inorganic perovskite nanocrystal scintillators [7], in ligand-passivated CsPbI3 nanocrystals achieving near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield and efficient red LEDs [8], and in doping-enhanced short-range order that improves violet luminescence quantum yield [9]. Federico Capasso [2], associated with Harvard University [5] and Duke University [6] during this era. His metalenses at visible wavelengths work established diffraction-limited focusing and subwavelength imaging [10], enabling metasurface-enabled, compact on-chip nanophotonic functionality during the Engineered Nanophotonic Interfaces era.