Large Purcell enhancement with efficient one-dimensional collection via coupled nanowire-nanorod system.

Combining the advantages of both gap surface plasmons (GSPs) and evanescent waves, we demonstrate simultaneously large Purcell enhancement and efficient one-dimensional collection of photons at subwavelength scale in the coupled nanowire-nanorod system. The spontaneous emission (SE) can be enhanced thousands of times based on the excitation of GSPs with strongly localized electromagnetic field. Emitted photons are directly collected by subwavelength-confined evanescent modes and guided along the nanowire. By optimizing geometry and material parameters, 14 208 times of Purcell enhancement with collection efficiency up to 39.3% can be achieved in the Ag nanowire-Ag nanorod system where the emitted photons can spread more than 25 μm, or SE is enhanced by 3142 times and up to 53% of emitted photons propagate with low loss in the dielectric nanowire-Ag nanorod system. This proposal that incorporates large Purcell enhancement, efficient nanoscale collection and one-dimensional propagation of photons, promises to have an important impact on bright single photon sources, plasmon-based nanolasers and on-chip nanodevices.