The possibilities of practical implementation of physical approaches to the design of metal-dielectric photonic crystal systems based on opals, which allow controlling the propagation of electromagnetic waves, are shown. The implemented approaches are based on the effects of excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons capable of propagating along the metal-dielectric interface in plasmonic-photonic layered heterostructures, and modification of the photonic-energy structure of the nanocomposite as a result of dispersion of silver in the opal matrix. Experimental results are presented indicating the occurrence of extraordinary transmission and absorption of light in plasmonic-photonic heterostructures, as well as the asymmetric shape of curves in the reflection spectra of nanocomposites, which is associated with the Fano resonance. Keywords: photonic crystals, opals, surface plasmon-polaritons, metal-dielectric systems, Fano resonance.

The possibilities of practical implementation of physical approaches to the design of metal-dielectric photonic crystal systems based on opals, which allow controlling the propagation of electromagnetic waves, are shown. The implemented approaches are based on the effects of excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons capable of propagating along the metal-dielectric interface in plasmonic-photonic layered heterostructures, and modification of the photonic-energy structure of the nanocomposite as a result of dispersion of silver in the opal matrix. Experimental results are presented indicating the occurrence of extraordinary transmission and absorption of light in plasmonic-photonic heterostructures, as well as the asymmetric shape of curves in the reflection spectra of nanocomposites, which is associated with the Fano resonance.

The paper reports on the study of optical phenomena peculiarities in metal-dielectric nanocomposite materials based on opal matrices caused by the excitation and propagation of sur-face plasmon-polaritons along the metal-dielectric interface. It is shown that two types of surface plasmon polaritons ('bright' and 'dark') can occur in the studied structures, which manifests itself in the established anomalies of light transmission and absorption.

The article studies the propagation of electromagnetic waves in metal-dielectric systems based on opals. We revealed anomalous transmission and absorption of light by hybrid plasmon- photonic layered heterostructures associated with the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons propagating along the metal-dielectric interface. The position of maxima in the reflection spectra of nanocomposites, obtained by filling the opal matrix with metal by the electrothermodiffusion method, is explained by the Bragg diffraction, and the asymmetric form of the spectral curves is attributed to the Fano resonance.

The electrical and optical properties of nanocomposite materials fabricated by the dispersion of iodine in porous dielectric matrices of zeolites, zeolite-like aluminum phosphates, opals, asbestos, and porous aluminum oxide are studied. It is demonstrated that the physical properties of the produced nanocomposites depend significantly on the structure of a matrix.

Direct experimental evidence for the existence of few strengthening mechanisms for polymeric composites modified with single-wall carbon nanotubes was obtained using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy.

Direct experimental proof of the existence of several mechanisms of strengthening of polymer composites modified with single-walled carbon nanotubes was obtained by the method of high-resolution scanning electron microscopy.

An experimental study of the optical properties of two types of metal-dielectric composites based on opal matrices was carried out: 1) layered structures obtained by successive deposition of metal and dielectric films on a monolayer of opal globules, where extraordinary transmission and extraordinary absorption of light were detected due to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons of various types; 2) "massive" opal samples, which were infilled with metal by electrothermodiffusion, where an asymmetric form of Bragg resonance curves was observed, due to the Fano resonance.

An experimental study of the optical properties of two types of metal–dielectric composites based on opal matrices has been carried out: (1) layered structures, obtained by successive deposition of metal and dielectric films on a monolayer of opal globules, where anomalous transmission and absorption of light was found due to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons of various types; (2) “massive” opal samples, into which the metal was introduced by the method of electrothermal diffusion, where an asymmetric shape of Bragg resonance curves was observed, due to the Fano resonance.

AbstractOptical properties of novel metal–dielectric nanocomposite materials based on opal matrices have been investigated. The position of optical resonances of nanocomposites, obtained by embedding of silver into the opal matrix by the electrothermodiffusion method, is explained by the Bragg diffraction, and an asymmetric form of resonance curves is attributed to the Fano resonance. An anomalous transmission and absorption of light by hybrid plasmon-photonic layered heterostructures, which is apparently associated with excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons, propagating along “metal–dielectric” interfaces, was revealed.

Optical properties of novel metal–dielectric nanocomposite materials based on opal matrices have been investigated. The position of optical resonances of nanocomposites, obtained by embedding of silver into the opal matrix by the electrothermodiffusion method, is explained by the Bragg diffraction, and an asymmetric form of resonance curves is attributed to the Fano resonance. An anomalous transmission and absorption of light by hybrid plasmon-photonic layered heterostructures, which is apparently associated with excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons, propagating along “metal–dielectric” interfaces, was revealed.

Metal-dielectric nanocomposite optical materials based on colloidal crystals have been prepared by electro-thermo-diffusion or magnetron sputtering of silver. Optical properties of these photonic crystals have been studied by angle-resolved reflectance and transmission spectroscopy. The interpretation of observed spectra has been made taking into account the Bragg diffraction, Fano resonance, Fabry-Perot resonance and surface plasmon-polaritons, which excitations contribute to the optical properties of plasmonic-photonic crystals.

It is shown that metal nanoparticles with thin atomic surface layer can be used as laser active medium. Significant narrowing of the emission band in the spectrum of the particle with a surface layer was found.

The shift and broadening of levels of a two-level molecule adsorbed on a small spherical particle are calculated using the causal Green function of the long-wavelength radiation. It is shown that due to the interaction between a molecule and a particle, nonresonant Raman scattering for the isolated molecule can become resonant for the adsorbed molecule.