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Plasmonic whispering gallery cavities as optical nanoantennas
Ernst Jan R Vesseur1, Albert Polman
1Center for Nanophotonics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands. vesseur@amolf.nl
Nano Letters
|December 2, 2011
Summary
We demonstrate plasmonic whispering gallery resonators for versatile antenna applications. These resonators exhibit controllable light emission and reception at the nanoscale.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Surface plasmon whispering gallery cavities offer unique optical properties.
- Understanding their resonant modes is crucial for device applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the resonant modes of plasmonic whispering gallery cavities.
- To characterize their local field and far-field radiation patterns.
- To explore their potential as nanoscale antennas.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of circular grooves in a gold (Au) surface.
- Spatially, angle-, and polarization-resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy.
- Deep-subwavelength resolution measurements of plasmonic local fields.
Main Results:
- Detailed mapping of resonant plasmonic local field distributions.
- Determination of far-field radiation patterns for individual plasmonic modes.
- Demonstration of mode-selective excitation and resolved modal angular radiation patterns.
Conclusions:
- Plasmons in whispering gallery resonators exhibit distinct modes.
- These resonators function as versatile nanoscale antennas for both receiving and transmitting.
- The findings open avenues for advanced nanoscale optical devices.
