Spontaneous emission dynamics of $E{u}^{3+}$ ions coupled to hyperbolic metamaterials

Abstract

Sub-wavelength nanostructured systems with tunable electromagnetic properties, such as hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs), provide a useful platform to tailor spontaneous emission processes. Here, we investigate a system comprising $E{u}^{3+}(N{O}_3{)}_{3}6H_{2}O$ nanocrystals on an HMM structure featuring a hexagonal array of Ag-nanowires in a porous $A{l}_2{O}_3$ matrix. The HMM-coupled $E{u}^{3+}$ ions exhibit up to a 2.4-fold increase of their decay rate, accompanied by an enhancement of the emission rate of the ${}^5{D}_0\to$ ${}^7{F}_2$ transition. Using finite-difference time-domain modeling, we corroborate these observations with the increase in the photonic density of states seen by the $E{u}^{3+}$ ions in the proximity of the HMM. Our results indicate HMMs can serve as a valuable tool to control the emission from weak transitions, and hence hint at a route towards more practical applications of rare-earth ions in nanoscale optoelectronics and quantum devices.

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