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Obtaining Circularly Polarized Optical Spots Beyond the Diffraction Limit Using Plasmonic Nano-Antennas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Erdem Ogut
Affiliation:
eogut@su.sabanciuniv.edu, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
Gullu Kiziltas
Affiliation:
gkiziltas@sabanciuniv.edu, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
Kursat Sendur
Affiliation:
sendur@sabanciuniv.edu, Sabanci University, Orhanli - Tuzla, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey, +90-216-4839527, +90-216-4839550
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Abstract

With advances in nanotechnology, emerging plasmonic nano-optical applications, such as all-optical magnetic recording, require circularly-polarized electromagnetic radiation beyond the diffraction limit. In this study, a plasmonic cross-dipole nano-antenna is investigated to obtain a circularly polarized near-field optical spot with a size smaller than the diffraction limit of light. The performance of the nano-antenna is investigated through numerical simulations. In the first part of this study, the nano-antenna is illuminated with a diffraction-limited circularly-polarized radiation to obtain circularly polarized optical spots at nanoscale. In the second part, diffraction limited linearly polarized radiation is used. An optimal configuration for the nano-antenna and the polarization angle of the incident light is identified to obtain a circularly polarized optical spot beyond the diffraction limit from a linearly polarized diffraction limited radiation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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