Academic literature on the topic 'DIELECTRIC NANOANTENNA'

AbstractConventional antennas, which are widely employed to transmit radio and TV signals, can be used at optical frequencies as long as they are shrunk to nanometer-size dimensions. Optical nanoantennas made of metallic or high-permittivity dielectric nanoparticles allow for enhancing and manipulating light on the scale much smaller than wavelength of light. Based on this ability, optical nanoantennas offer unique opportunities regarding key applications such as optical communications, photovoltaics, nonclassical light emission, and sensing. From a multitude of suggested nanoantenna concepts the Yagi-Uda nanoantenna, an optical analogue of the well-established radio-frequency Yagi-Uda antenna, stands out by its efficient unidirectional light emission and enhancement. Following a brief introduction to the emerging field of optical nanoantennas, here we review recent theoretical and experimental activities on optical Yagi-Uda nanoantennas, including their design, fabrication, and applications. We also discuss several extensions of the conventional Yagi-Uda antenna design for broadband and tunable operation, for applications in nanophotonic circuits and photovoltaic devices.

A nanoantenna with Fano response is designed with plasmonic oligomers as a refractive index sensor to enhance surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in the visible light spectrum. The scattered radiation and field-enhanced interactions of the outer gallium phosphide (GaP) nanoring assembled with an inner heptamer of silver with Fano response are investigated systematically using the finite element method. The characteristics of Fano resonance are found to depend on the size, shape and nature of the materials in the hybrid nanoantenna. The confined electromagnetic field produces a single-point electromagnetic hotspot with up to 159.59 V/m. The sensitivity obtained from the wavelength shift and variation in the scattering cross-section (SCS) shows a maximum value of 550 nm/RIU. The results validate the design concept and demonstrate near-field enhancement, enabling the design of high-performance nanoantennas with enhanced optical sensing and SERS properties.

We present computational analysis of nanoantenna arrays for imaging and sensing applications at optical frequencies. Arrays of metallic nanoantennas are considered in an accurate simulation environment based on surface integral equations and the multilevel fast multipole algorithm developed for plasmonic structures. Near-zone responses of the designed arrays to nearby nanoparticles are investigated in detail to demonstrate the feasibility of detection. We show that both metallic and dielectric nanoparticles, even with subwavelength dimensions, can be detected.

Abstract A highly directive dielectric nanoantenna in an integrated chip may enable faster communication as their low losses and small size overcome the limitation of temperature enhancement and low data transfer rate. We optimize nanoantenna consist of Si-nanoblock in the near-infrared region to efficiently transfer a point dipole light to a highly directive light in the far-field region. We engineer the intrinsic electric and magnetic resonances of a Si-block nanoantenna by modifying and reducing its geometrical symmetry. We realize a pronounced enhancement of directivity by systematically inducing perturbation in the Silicon block so that both its reflection and rotational symmetries are broken. Finally, we retain the traditional method to increase resonance’s coupling to outer space by introducing substrate with an increasing refractive index. We find that the directivity has boosted rapidly.

A nanoantenna is a nanodevice that manipulates light propagation and enhances light-matter interaction at the nanoscale. Integration of an emitter into a nanoantenna capable of increasing local density of photonic states at the emission wavelength results in the enhanced spontaneous emission rate (Purcell effect). The most widely studied nanoantennas for the Purcell enhancement are plasmonic nanoantennas made from gold or silver nanostructures supporting surface plasmon resonances. In most cases, nanoantennas have been used for the enhancement of electric dipole-allowed transition of a molecule. In addition, recently, nanoantennas capable of enhancing magnetic dipole transition of a molecule are attracting attention. For the magnetic Purcell enhancement, nanoantennas have to have magnetic resonances at the optical frequency. Although it is possible to achieve magnetic resonances at the optical frequency by plasmonic nanostructures, the inherent absorption loss of noble metals limits the magnetic Purcell enhancement. On the other hand, nanoparticles of high refractive index dielectrics inherently have low-loss magnetic-type Mie resonances at the optical frequency, and thus are potentially more attractive as a material to realize large magnetic Purcell enhancement. We have developed spherical nanoparticles of crystalline silicon (Si) having the magnetic dipole (MD) and quadrupole (MQ) Mie resonances at the optical frequency [1]. In this work, to demonstrate the potential of a Si nanoparticle as a nanoantenna for the magnetic Purcell enhancement, we develop a composite nanoparticle, that is, a Si nanosphere decorated with europium ion (Eu3+) complexes, in which magnetic dipole emission of Eu3+ is efficiently coupled to the magnetic Mie modes of the nanosphere [2]. We systematically investigate the light scattering and photoluminescence spectra of the coupled system by means of single particle spectroscopy. The results are shown in Figure 1. By tuning the MQ Mie resonance of a Si nanosphere to the 5D0-7F1 magnetic dipole transition of Eu3+, the branching ratio between the magnetic and electric dipole (5D0-7F2) transitions is enhanced up to 7 times. The observed large magnetic Purcell enhancement offers an opportunity to develop novel fluorophores with enhanced magnetic dipole emission. Furthermore, the enhanced magnetic field of dielectric Mie resonators enhances otherwise very weak absorption due to magnetic dipole transition, and makes direct excitation of triplet states of a molecule possible [3]. Direct excitation of triplet states reduces photon energy necessary for energy conversion and chemical reactions utilizing a triplet state compared to a conventional process involving singlet-singlet excitation and singlet-triplet intersystem crossing. [1] H. Sugimoto, et. al., "Mie Resonator Color Inks of Monodispersed and Perfectly Spherical Crystalline Silicon Nanoparticles" Advanced Optical Materials, 8 (2020) 2000033. [2] H. Sugimoto, and Minoru Fujii, "Magnetic Purcell Enhancement by Magnetic Quadrupole Resonance of Dielectric Nanosphere Antenna", ACS Photonics, 8 (2021) 1794. [3] H. Sugimoto, et. al., "Direct Excitation of Triplet State of Molecule by Enhanced Magnetic Field of Dielectric Metasurfaces", Small, 2021, DOI: 10.1002/smll.202104458. Figure 1: Photoluminescence (red curves) and scattering (black curves) spectra of single Si naosphere-Eu3+ complex composite nanoparticles with different Si nanosphere diameters. The diameters are shown at the right end of the figure. Figure 1

AbstractOptical nanoantennas can efficiently harvest electromagnetic energy from nanoscale space and boost the local radiation to the far field. The dielectric-metal nanogap is a novel design that can help to overcome the core issue of optical loss in all-metal nanostructures while enabling photon density of states larger than that in all-dielectric counterparts. This article reports that a crystalline spherical silicon nanoparticle on metal film (SiNPoM) nanoantenna can largely enhance the spontaneous emission intensity of quantum dots by an area-normalized factor of 69 and the decay rate by 42-fold compared with quantum dots on glass. A high total quantum efficiency of over 80%, including ~20% for far-field radiation and ~60% for surface plasmon polaritons, is obtained in simulation. Thanks to not only the low optical loss in dielectric nanoparticles but also the appropriate gap thickness which weakens the non-radiative decay due to the quenching from metal. Mie resonant modes additionally provide the flexible control of far-field emission patterns. Such a simple optical nanoantenna can be combined with various nanoscale optical emitters and easily extended to form large area metasurfaces functioning as active regions in light-emitting devices in applications such as advanced display, wireless optical communication, and quantum technology.

Plasmonic nanocavities enable extreme light–matter interactions by pushing light down to the nanoscale. The numerical simulation is carried out systematically on the slotted Φ -shaped Si disk system with the super-dipole mode based on the analysis of the scattering strength of electric and toroidal dipoles. New blocks are introduced to the zero-field strength region of a slotted Si disk system as a function of the field enhancement factors. The far-field scattering characteristics and near-field electromagnetic field distributions are investigated by a multipole decomposition analysis to elucidate the intrinsic causes of the field enhancement. In the hybrid metal-dielectric nanoantenna, the Φ -shaped Si structure is prepared by superimposing Au nanoantennas for further field enhancement. In addition, the effects of the placement of an electric dipole emitter on the Purcell factor are derived. The geometric volume of the system is increased, and the electric field strength is improved, leading to an electric field increase of ∼ 30 . Coupling between the super-dipole mode of the dielectric nanostructure and plasmonic modes of the metallic nanoantenna produces an enhancement as large as 16 times. Our results reveal a greatly enhanced super-dipole mode by electromagnetic coupling in composite structures, which will play a significant role in enhanced nonlinear photonics, near-field enhancement spectroscopy, and strong photon–exciton coupling.

At the end of the XX century, a new phenomenon was discovered by Ebbesen, the extraordinary optical transmission. He reported that metallic arrays composed of nano holes, also called nanoantennas, can support resonant optical transmissions responsible by the amplification and concentration of electromagnetic radiation. Classical diffraction theories do not predict this extraordinary phenomenon. This article shows the timeline of theories that try to model the interaction between light and metal planes with slits, holes, grooves or apertures. The comparison between theories is done. Furthermore, as the optical response of these nanoantennas is dependent on the complex dielectric function, there is a high probability of successfully using these structures as sensors. This article aimed to verify how the structure parameters (periodicity, hole diameter, nanoantenna thickness and substrate thickness) can influence the optical response in order to tune the spectrum. Using a Finite Element Tool, several 3D simulations aim to conclude about the parameters influence on air–gold–quartz and air–aluminum–quartz structures, being the nanoantenna made with gold and aluminum. Moreover, all the simulations allow us to verify a resonant spectral response and the existence of great values of amplification near the metal surface. This is a clear evidence of a energy exchange due to the generation and propagation of surface plasmon polaritons. Based on the spectra taken from the parameter analysis, a specific structure was chosen to test two different sensors. A temperature sensor and a tissue detection sensor were tested and the simulations are presented. It is concluded that a nanostructure based on a nanoantenna can be used as a sensor for several applications.

Light manipulation at the nanoscale is the vanguard of plasmonics. Controlling light radiation into a desired direction in parallel with high optical signal enhancement is still a challenge for designing ultracompact nanoantennas far below subwavelength dimensions. Here, we theoretically demonstrate the unidirectional emissions from a local nanoemitter coupled to a hybrid nanoantenna consisting of a plasmonic dipole antenna and an individual silicon nanorod. The emitter near-field was coupled to the dipolar antenna plasmon resonance to achieve a strong radiative decay rate modification, and the emitting plasmon pumped the multipoles within the silicon nanorod for efficient emission redirection. The hybrid antenna sustained a high forward directivity (i.e., a front-to-back ratio of 30 dB) with broadband operating wavelengths in the visible range (i.e., a spectral bandwidth of 240 nm). This facilitated a large library of plasmonic nanostructures to be incorporated, from single element dipole antennas to gap antennas. The proposed hybrid optical nanorouter with ultracompact structural dimensions of 0.08 λ2 was capable of spectrally sorting the emission from the local point source into distinct far-field directions, as well as possessing large emission gains introduced by the nanogap. The distinct features of antenna designs hold potential in the areas of novel nanoscale light sources, biosensing, and optical routing.

In this thesis, we theoretically demonstrate ultra-directional, azimuthally symmetric forward scattering by dielectric cylindrical nanoantennas for futuristic nanophotonic applications in visible and near-infrared regions. Electric and magnetic dipoles have been optically induced in the nano-cylinders at the resonant wavelengths. It has been demonstrated that the cylindrical dielectric nanoparticles exhibit complete suppression of backward scattering and improved forward scattering at first generalized Kerker’s condition. The influence of gap between nano-cylinder elements on the scattering pattern of the homodimers has been demonstrated. Further, for highly directive applications a linear chain of ultra-directional cylindrical nanoantenna array has been proposed. The effect of the dimensions and material of the dielectric nanocylinder on the scattering properties of the cylindrical nanoantenna has been analyzed using finite element method (FEM). It has been observed that the scattering characteristics of dielectric cylindrical nanoantennas are highly dependent on the dielectric material and aspect ratio of nanocylinder. It has been demonstrated that as dielectric permittivity of the nanocylinder decreases the gap between electric and magnetic resonance decreases hence the directivity increases. We have analyzed that the variation in diameter of nanocylinder has great influence on the strength of interference of electric and magnetic dipolar resonances. As the radius of the nanocylinder is increased, the electric and magnetic dipolar resonances shift towards the higher wavelengths, however no significant change has been observed with the increase in height. Thus, the cylindrical nanoparticles can be used for the design and development of tunable unidirectional nanoantenna applications in visible to near infra-red range.

Since a cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) was firstly proposed by Long et al. in the 1980s, extensive research has been carried out on analyzing DRA shapes, characterizing the resonant modes, improving their radiation characteristics with various excitation schemes. Compared with conventional conductor-based antennas, DRAs have attractive features such as small size, high radiation efficiency and versatility in their shape and feeding mechanism. Importantly, various orthogonal modes with diverse radiation characteristics can be excited within a single DRA element. These modes can be utilized for various requirements, which makes the DRA a suitable potential candidate for multifunction applications. Based on this principle, this thesis presents different multifunction designs: Firstly a cross-shaped DRA with separately fed broadside circularly polarized (CP) and omnidirectional linearly polarized (LP) radiation patterns and, secondly, a multifunction annular cylindrical DRA realizing simultaneously omnidirectional horizontally and vertically polarized radiation patterns with low cross-coupling. The evolution, design process and experimental validation of these two antennas are described in details in the thesis. The second part of the thesis dramatically scales down DRA to shorter wavelengths. Inspired by the fact that DRA still exhibits high radiation efficiency (>90%) in the millimetre wave range, while the efficiency of conventional metallic antenna degrades rapidly with frequencies, this thesis proposes the concept of nanometer-scale DRA operated in their fundamental mode as optical antennas. To validate the concept, optical DRA reflectarrays have been designed and fabricated. Although the zeroth-order spatial harmonic reflection is observed in the measurement due to the imperfect nanofabrication, the power ratio of deflected beam to the specular component of reflection amounts to 4.42, demonstrating the expected operation of the reflectarray. The results strongly support the concept of optical DRA and proposes design methods and strategies for their realization. This proof of concept is an essential step for future research on nano-DRA as building block of emerging nano-structured optical components.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, 2013.

[ES] La revolución posibilitada por las aplicaciones fotónicas durante las últimas décadas ha dejado su impronta en la sociedad tal y como la conocemos actualmente. Ejemplos claros de este impacto están patentes en, por ejemplo, el enorme tráfico de datos generado por el uso de Internet o el empleo extendido de algunas técnicas biomédicas con fines diagnósticos o quirúrgicos, que no podrían entenderse sin el incesante desarrollo de los sistemas ópticos. La necesidad de combinar y miniaturizar estos sistemas para generar funcionalidades más avanzadas dio lugar al nacimiento de los circuitos fotónicos integrados (PICs), que es donde esta tesis comenzó a tomar forma. En este sentido, observamos limitaciones en términos de flexibilidad o reconfigurabilidad inherentes a la naturaleza guiada de la mayoría de los PICs realizados hasta el momento. En el caso de circuitos plasmónicos, observamos también limitaciones por las pérdidas que tienen las guías metálicas a altas frecuencias. La inclusión de estructuras inalámbricas (basadas principalmente en nanoantenas plasmónicas) en la capa fotónica surgió para mitigar estas pérdidas, abriendo también nuevas vías de investigación. Sin embargo, estos dispositivos aún presentaban rendimientos muy pobres como elementos puramente radiantes en el régimen de campo lejano. Para superar estas deficiencias, en este trabajo, introdujimos un enfoque novedoso en el desarrollo de dispositivos inalámbricos en la nanoescala, que dio forma a lo que llamamos on-chip wireless silicon photonics. Este nuevo concepto se apoyó en el uso de nanoantenas de silicio compatibles con procesos CMOS, que constituyen las estructuras clave que posibilitan un vasto catálogo de aplicaciones en redes fotónicas de comunicación o en sensores ultra-integrados, así como para la interconexión de sistemas dieléctricos-plasmónicos avanzados. En el ámbito de las comunicaciones, gracias a las sencillas reglas de diseño para adaptar la directividad de estas nanoantenas a diversas aplicaciones, pudimos demostrar por primera vez transmisiones inalámbricas de datos (mediante el uso de antenas altamente directivas) en redes on-chip reconfigurables o desarrollar dispositivos para generar a voluntad focos electromagnéticos de manera dinámica en espacios bidimensionales (gracias a antenas con una directividad más baja). Por otro lado, en el campo del biosensado, diseñamos y fabricamos un dispositivo lab-on-a-chip para la identificación de micropartículas, basado en el uso de antenas dieléctricas -presentando un rendimiento equiparable a los mejores diseños desarrollados hasta el momento- que incluye el subsistema óptico más compacto demostrado hasta la fecha. Finalmente, fuimos capaces de conectar experimentalmente y de manera eficiente antenas basadas en silicio con estructuras plasmónicas para el desarrollo de nuevas aplicaciones en la nanoescala, aunando las ventajas del on-chip wireles silicon photonics para comunicaciones en chip, conformación dinámica de haces o biosensado con las ventajas de la plasmónica para la manipulación e interacción con luz.
[CAT] La revolució habilitada per les aplicacions fotòniques durant les últimes dècades ha deixat la seua empremta en la societat actual tal com la coneixem. Exemples clars d'aquest impacte estan patents en, per exemple, l'enorme tràfic de dades generat per l'ús d'Internet o d'algunes tècniques biomèdiques amb fins diagnòstics o quirúrgics, que no es podrien entendre sense l'incessant desenvolupament dels sistemes òptics. La necessitat de combinar i miniaturitzar aquests sistemes per produir funcionalitats més avançades va donar lloc al naixement dels circuits fotònics integrats (PICs), que és on aquesta tesi va començar a prendre forma. En aquest sentit, observem limitacions en termes de flexibilitat o reconfigurabilitat inherents a la naturalesa guiada de la majoria dels PICs realitzats fins al moment. En el circuits plasmònics, tenim a mès les limitacions de les elevades pèrdues que les guies metàl·liques tenen a altes freqüències. La inclusió d'estructures sense fil (basades principalment en l'ús de nanoantenes plasmòniques) a la capa fotònica va sorgir per mitigar aquestes pèrdues, obrint també noves vies d'investigació. No obstant això, aquests dispositius encara presentaven rendiments molt pobres com a elements purament radiants en el règim de camp llunyà. Per superar aquestes deficiències, en aquest treball, vam introduir un enfocament innovador en el desenvolupament de dispositius sense fil a la nanoescala, que va donar forma al que anomenem on-chip wireless silicon photonics. Aquest nou concepte està basat en l'ús de nanoantenes de silici compatibles amb processos CMOS, que constitueixen les estructures clau que possibiliten un vast catàleg d'aplicacions en xarxes fotòniques de comunicació o en sensors ultra-integrats, així com per a la interconnexió de sistemes dieléctrics-plasmònics avançats. En l'àmbit de les comunicacions, gràcies a les senzilles regles de disseny per adaptar la directivitat de les antenes a les diverses aplicacions, vam poder demostrar per primera vegada transmissions de dades on-chip (mitjançant l'ús d'antenes altament directives) en xarxes reconfigurables o desenvolupar un dispositiu per generar a voluntat focus electromagnètics de manera dinàmica en espais bidimensionals (gràcies a antenes amb una directivitat més baixa). D'altra banda, en el camp del biosensing, vam dissenyar i fabricar un sensor lab-on-a-chip per a la classificació de micropartícules, basat en l'emprament d'antenes dielèctriques amb un rendiment a l'avantguarda dels millors dispositius de l'estat de l'art, que inclou el subsistema òptic més compacte demostrat fins al moment. Finalment, vam ser capaços de connectar experimentalment i de manera eficient antenes basades en silici amb estructures plasmònics per al desenvolupament de noves aplicacions en la nanoescala, unint els avantatges del on-chip wireless silicon photonics per a comunicacions en xip, conformació dinàmica de feixos o biosensat amb els avantatges de la plasmònica per a la manipulació e interacció amb llum.
[EN] The revolution sparked by photonic applications during the last decades has made its mark in society, as we currently know it. Clear examples of this impact are patent in, for instance, the colossal worldwide data traffic generated by the use of the Internet or the widespread utilization of some biomedical techniques for diagnostic or surgical purposes, which could not be understood without the ceaseless development of optical systems. The necessity of combining and miniaturizing these systems to enable advanced functionalities gave birth to the development of photonic integrated circuits (PICs), which is the main framework within which this thesis began to take shape. Along these lines, we noticed restricted limitations in terms of flexibility or reconfigurability inherent to the wired-based nature of most PIC implementations carried out so far. In the case of plasmonic circuitry, there are additional shortcomings arising from the prohibitive losses of metallic waveguides at very high frequencies. The inclusion of wireless structures (mostly based on plasmonic nanoantennas) at the photonic layer emerged to mitigate these limiting losses, also opening new research avenues. However, these devices still presented poor performances as purely radiating elements in the far-field regime. In order to overcome these lacks, in this work, we introduced a novel version to wireless approaches at the nanoscale in what we called on-chip wireless silicon photonics. This new concept was built upon the use of CMOS-compatible silicon-based nanoantennas, which constitute the key enabling structures of a diverse catalogue of applications in photonic communication networks or ultra-integrated sensors as well as for interfacing advanced dielectric-plasmonic systems. In the scope of communications, thanks to the easiness to tailor the antenna directivity, we were able to experimentally demonstrate on-chip data transmission flows in reconfigurable networks for the first time (by using highly directive antennas) or to develop dynamically tailor-made interference patterns to create focused spots at will on a 2D arrangement (enabled by antennas with a lower directivity). On the other hand, in the field of biosensing, we experimentally implemented a dielectric antenna-based lab-on-a-chip device for microparticle classification with state-of-the-art performance, which included the most compact optical subsystem demonstrated so far. Finally, we were able to efficiently interface silicon-based antennas to plasmonic systems to develop new advanced functionalities at the nanoscale, by putting together the advantages of on-chip wireless silicon photonics for on-chip communications, beam-shaping tailoring or lab-on-a-chip sensing with the advantages of plasmonics for light concentration and manipulation.
Lechago Buendía, S. (2019). All-dielectric nanoantennas enabling on-chip wireless silicon photonics [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/133074
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