Light-field modulation and optimization near metal nanostructures utilizing spatial light modulators

Plasmonic modes within metal nanostructures play a pivotal role in various nanophotonic applications. However, a significant challenge arises from the fixed shapes of nanostructures post-fabrication, resulting in limited modes under ordinary illumination. A promising solution lies in far-field control facilitated by spatial light modulators (SLMs), which enable on-site, real-time, and non-destructive manipulation of plasmon excitation. Through the robust modulation of incident light using SLMs, this approach enables the generation, optimization, and dynamic control of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) and localized surface plasmon (LSP) modes. The versatility of this technique introduces a rich array of tunable degrees of freedom to plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy, offering novel approaches for signal optimization and functional expansion in this field. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the generation and modulation of SPP and LSP modes through far-field control with SLMs and highlights the diverse applications of this optical technology in plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy.