LAUSR

We demonstrate tunable polarization-dependent infrared plasmonic lattice modes in the range of 1 to 1.7 μm in arrays of large gold nanodisks with a rectangle lattice structure. We show that when these arrays are exposed to air, their main mode appears around 1 μm. Under this condition, addition of chemicals leads to significant wavelength shifts in this mode, offering a refractive index sensitivity of about 795 nm/RIU (refractive index unit). Our results show that this process is accompanied by excitation of a sharp peak associated with an infrared lattice mode at about 1.62 μm, suggesting an abrupt refractive-index switching of the collective modes of the arrays. By depositing ultrathin layers of Si, we show that the wavelength of the 1 μm mode can be shifted, covering the whole telecom band ranges. We demonstrate that this can lead to tunable narrow- and wide-band polarization switching of the collective modes of the arrays within this range with a high extinction ratio.