Manipulating Fano Coupling in an Opto-Thermoelectric Field

Fano resonances in photonics arise from the coupling and interference between two resonant modes in structures with broken symmetry. They feature an uneven and narrow and tunable lineshape and are ideally suited for optical spectroscopy. Many Fano resonance structures have been suggested in nanophotonics over the last ten years, but reconfigurability and tailored design remain challenging. Herein, an all-optical "pick-and-place" approach aimed at assembling Fano metamolecules of various geometries and compositions in a reconfigurable manner is proposed. Their coupling behavior by in situ dark-field scattering spectroscopy is studied. Driven by a light-directed opto-thermoelectric field, silicon nanoparticles with high-quality-factor Mie resonances (discrete states) and low-loss BaTiO₃ nanoparticles (continuum states) are assembled into all-dielectric heterodimers, where distinct Fano resonances are observed. The Fano parameter can be adjusted by changing the resonant frequency of the discrete states or the light polarization. Tunable coupling strength and multiple Fano resonances by altering the number of continuum states and discrete states in dielectric heterooligomers are also shown. This work offers a general design rule for Fano resonance and an all-optical platform for controlling Fano coupling on demand.