Plasmonic neuronal architectures on cover of Nanophotonics

In the publication by the research group of OPTIMAS speaker Prof. Dr. Martin Aeschlimann, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Benjamin Stadtmüller from the University of Augsburg, a plasmonic platform is presented that combines optical multiplexing, static weighting, and nonlinear activation within a single nanoscale architecture — marking a decisive step toward the realization of a plasmonic neural cell. In this approach, the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light serves as an orthogonal and inherently parallel encoding scheme. This enables different optical signals to be directed into individual plasmonic waveguides. The weighting of the input signals is controlled by precisely engineered gaps, while the nonlinear activation of the system is achieved through two-photon photoemission, which is spatially resolved by photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM). The design confines electromagnetic fields far below the diffraction limit and integrates plasmonic signal routing in a highly compact architecture, thereby reducing absorption losses and making targeted use of local near-field effects. The structure is fabricated using a two-step electron-beam lithography (EBL) process and is therefore, in principle, suitable for scalable manufacturing. It constitutes a compact, energy-efficient building block for ultrafast neuromorphic photonic circuits. Taken together, these results outline a concrete path toward dense plasmonic neural networks capable of purely optical information processing at the speed of light.

Toward Plasmonic Neuronal Architectures at the Nanometer Scale
Christopher G. O. Weiß, Tobias Eul, Emily Kruel, Mario F. Pfeiffer, Bert Lägel, Benjamin Stadtmüller, Martin Aeschlimann
Nanophotonics, 2026; 15:e70066

Link to cover

For more information: 

Prof. Dr. Martin Aeschlimann

RPTU in Kaiserslautern, Department of Physics

Phone:  +49 (0)631-205 2322

E-mail: m.aeschlimann(at)rptu.de