We give an overview of the physical fundamentals of femtosecond nanophotonics — the basic physical phenomena behind the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with nanoscale objects, nanocomposite materials, supramolecular structures, and molecular aggregates. Femtosecond laser pulses pave a way to achieving high intensities of electromagnetic radiation without irreversible damage to materials, making it possible to observe unique regimes of interaction of the light field with nanostructures and molecular aggregates. Dielectric and electron confinement, as well as resonances due to quantum size effects and collective phenomena in supramolecular and aggregate structures, radically enhance nonlinear-optical interactions of ultrashort pulses. These phenomena offer interesting solutions for a high-sensitivity nonlinear-optical metrology of nanostructured materials, including the analysis of their composition, structure, and morphology, suggesting new attractive strategies for the control, switching, and transformation of ultrashort pulses.

PACS: 42.55.−f, 42.62.−b, 42.65.Ky, 42.65.Re (all) DOI: 10.1070/PU2004v047n07ABEH001811 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2004/7/c/ 000225027900003 2004PhyU...47..687I Citation: Ivanov A A, Alfimov M V, Zheltikov A M "Femtosecond pulses in nanophotonics" Phys. Usp. 47 687–704 (2004) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS) MedlineRefWorks PT Journal Article TI Femtosecond pulses in nanophotonics AU Ivanov A A FAU Ivanov AA AU Alfimov M V FAU Alfimov MV AU Zheltikov A M FAU Zheltikov AM DP 10 Jul, 2004 TA Phys. Usp. VI 47 IP 7 PG 687-704 RX 10.1070/PU2004v047n07ABEH001811 URL https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2004/7/c/ SO Phys. Usp. 2004 Jul 10;47(7):687-704 Оригинал: Иванов А А, Алфимов М В, Желтиков А М «Фемтосекундные импульсы в нанофотонике» УФН 174 743–763 (2004); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0174.200407c.0743