Exciton-plasmon-photon conversion in plasmonic nanostructures.

A silver-nanowire cavity is functionalized with CdSe nanocrystals and optimized towards cavity quantum electrodynamics by varying the nanocrystal-nanowire distance d and cavity length L. From the modulation of the nanocrystal emission by the cavity modes a plasmon group velocity of v (gr) approximately 0.5c is derived. Efficient exciton-plasmon-photon conversion and guiding is demonstrated along with a modification in the spontaneous emission rate of the coupled exciton-plasmon system.