Skip to main content
Log in

Tuning the polarization states of optical spots at the nanoscale on the Poincaré sphere using a plasmonic nanoantenna

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is shown that the polarization states of optical spots at the nanoscale can be manipulated to various points on the Poincaré sphere using a plasmonic nanoantenna. Linearly, circularly, and elliptically polarized near-field optical spots at the nanoscale are achieved with various polarization states on the Poincaré sphere using a plasmonic nanoantenna. A novel plasmonic nanoantenna is illuminated with diffraction-limited linearly polarized light. It is demonstrated that the plasmonic resonances of perpendicular and longitudinal components of the nanoantenna and the angle of incident polarization can be tuned to obtain optical spots beyond the diffraction limit with a desired polarization and handedness.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J.M. Kikkawa, D.D. Awschalom, All-optical magnetic resonance in semiconductors. Science 287, 473–476 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. S. Neale, M. Macdonald, K. Dholakia, T.F. Krauss, All-optical control of microfluidic components using form birefringence. Nature 4, 530–533 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. R. Hassey, E.J. Swain, N.I. Hammer, D. Venkataraman, M.D. Barnes, Probing the chiroptical response of a single molecule. Science 314, 1437–1439 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. X. Peng, N. Komatsu, S. Bhattacharya, T. Shimawaki, S. Aonuma, T. Kimura, A. Osuka, Optically active single-walled carbon nanotubes. Nature 2, 361–365 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  5. J.M. Volakis, Antenna Engineering Handbook (McGraw-Hill, New York, 2007)

    Google Scholar 

  6. C.D. Stanciu, F. Hansteen, A.V. Kimel, A. Kirilyuk, A. Tsukamoto, A. Itoh, All-optical magnetic recording with circularly polarized light. Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 047601 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. K. Vahaplar, A.M. Kalashnikova, A.V. Kimel, T. Shimawaki, D. Hinzke, U. Nowak, R. Chantrell, A. Tsukamoto, A. Itoh, A. Kirilyuk, Th. Rasing, Ultrafast path for optical magnetization reversal via a strongly nonequilibrium state. Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 117201 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Y. Ohdaira, T. Inoue, H. Hori, K. Kitahara, Local circular polarization observed in surface vortices of optical near-fields. Opt. Express 16, 2915–2921 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. K. Lindfors, A. Priimagi, T. Setälä, A. Shevchenko, A.T. Friberg, M. Kaivola, Local polarization of tightly focused unpolarized light. Nat. Photonics 1, 228–231 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. T. Shegai, Z. Li, T. Dadosh, Z. Zhang, H. Xu, G. Haran, Managing light polarization via plasmon-molecule interactions within an asymmetric metal nanoparticle trimer. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105, 16448–16453 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. P. Biagioni, J.S. Huang, L. Duò, M. Finazzi, B. Hecht, Cross resonant optical antenna. Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 256801 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. E. Ogut, G. Kiziltas, K. Sendur, Circularly-polarized localized near-field radiation at the nanoscale. Appl. Phys. B 99, 67–74 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. P. Biagioni, M. Savoini, J.S. Huang, L. Duò, M. Finazzi, B. Hecht, Near-field polarization shaping by a near-resonant plasmonic cross antenna. Phys. Rev. B 80, 153409 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. R. Kullock, Polarization conversion through collective surface plasmons in metallic nanorod arrays. Opt. Express 16, 21671–21681 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. A. Drezet, C. Genet, T. Ebbesen, Miniature plasmonic wave plates. Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 043902 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. T. Li, H. Liu, S.M. Wang, X.G. Yin, F.M. Wang, S.N. Zu, X. Zhang, Manipulating optical rotation in extraordinary transmission by hybrid plasmonic excitations. Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 021110 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. J.E. Kong, Electromagnetic Wave Theory (Wiley, New York, 1986)

    Google Scholar 

  18. E.D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids (Academic Press, San Diego, 1998)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Şendur.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Öğüt, E., Şendur, K. Tuning the polarization states of optical spots at the nanoscale on the Poincaré sphere using a plasmonic nanoantenna. Appl. Phys. A 103, 855–858 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-010-6228-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-010-6228-5

Keywords

Navigation