Alexander E. Krasnok

Superdirective dielectric nanoantennas.

We introduce the novel concept of superdirective nanoantennas based on the excitation of higher-order magnetic multipole moments in subwavelength dielectric nanoparticles. Our superdirective nanoantenna is a small Si nanosphere containing a notch, and is excited by a dipole located within the notch. In addition to extraordinary directivity, this nanoantenna demonstrates efficient radiation steering at the nanoscale, resulting from the subwavelength sensitivity of the beam radiation direction to variation of the source position inside the notch. We compare our dielectric nanoantenna with a plasmonic nanoantenna of similar geometry, and reveal that the nanoantennas high directivity in the regime of transmission is not associated with strong localization of near fields in the regime of reception. Likewise, the absence of hot spots inside the nanoantenna leads to low dissipation in the radiation regime, so that our dielectric nanoantenna has significantly smaller losses and high radiation efficiency of up to 70%.

Experimental verification of the concept of all-dielectric nanoantennas

Being motivated by the recent theoretical proposal of nanoantennas based on high-permittivity dielectric spheres [A. E. Krasnok et al., JETP Lett. 94, 22113 (2011)], we suggest and verify experimentally the concept of all-dielectric antennas in the microwave frequency range. In addition to the electric resonance, each sphere exhibits a very strong magnetic resonance, resulting in a narrow radiation pattern and overall high directivity of such antennas. We find an excellent agreement between the experimental data and numerical results and verify directly high-performance characteristics of such all-dielectric antennas potentially scalable to the nanoscale and operation at the optical frequency range.

Tuning of Magnetic Optical Response in a Dielectric Nanoparticle by Ultrafast Photoexcitation of Dense Electron-Hole Plasma.

We propose a novel approach for efficient tuning of optical properties of a high refractive index subwavelength nanoparticle with a magnetic Mie-type resonance by means of femtosecond laser irradiation. This concept is based on ultrafast photoinjection of dense (>10(20) cm(-3)) electron-hole plasma within such nanoparticle, drastically changing its transient dielectric permittivity. This allows manipulation by both electric and magnetic nanoparticle responses, resulting in dramatic changes of its scattering diagram and scattering cross section. We experimentally demonstrate 20% tuning of reflectance of a single silicon nanoparticle by femtosecond laser pulses with wavelength in the vicinity of the magnetic dipole resonance. Such a single-particle nanodevice enables designing of fast and ultracompact optical switchers and modulators.

Huygens optical elements and Yagi—Uda nanoantennas based on dielectric nanoparticles

A new class of optical nanoantennas based on dielectric nanoparticles has been proposed and their main characteristics have been analyzed. It has been shown that one dielectric nanoparticle can have the properties of a Huygens element in the optical wavelength range. A Yagi-Uda nanoantenna based on dielectric nano-particles has been studied analytically and numerically.

Near-field mapping of Fano resonances in all-dielectric oligomers

We demonstrate experimentally Fano resonances in all-dielectric oligomers clusters of dielectric particles. We study two structures consisting of a ring of six ceramic spheres with and without a central particle and demonstrate that both structures exhibit resonant suppression of the forward scattering associated with the Fano resonance originated from the excitation of magnetic dipole modes. By employing the near-field measurement techniques, we establish the relation between near- and far-field properties of the Fano resonances and identify directly their origin. We support our findings by an analytical approach based on the discrete-dipole approximation and find an excellent agreement with the experimental data.

Towards all-dielectric metamaterials and nanophotonics

We review a new, rapidly developing field of all-dielectric nanophotonics which allows to control both magnetic and electric response of structured matter by engineering the Mie resonances in high-index dielectric nanoparticles. We discuss optical properties of such dielectric nanoparticles, methods of their fabrication, and also recent advances in all-dielectric metadevices including couple-resonator dielectric waveguides, nanoantennas, and metasurfaces.

Fabrication of Hybrid Nanostructures via Nanoscale Laser-Induced Reshaping for Advanced Light Manipulation

Ordered hybrid nanostructures for nanophotonics applications are fabricated by a novel approach via femtosecond laser melting of asymmetric metal-dielectric (Au/Si) nanoparticles created by lithographical methods. The approach allows selective reshaping of the metal components of the hybrid nanoparticles without affecting the dielectric ones and is applied for tuning of the scattering properties of the hybrid nanostructures in the visible range.

All-dielectric nanophotonics: the quest for better materials and fabrication techniques

All-dielectric nanophotonics is an exciting and rapidly developing area of nano-optics that utilizes the resonant behavior of high-index low-loss dielectric nanoparticles to enhance light–matter interaction at the nanoscale. When experimental implementation of a specific all-dielectric nanostructure is desired, two crucial factors have to be considered: the choice of a high-index material and a fabrication method. The degree to which various effects can be enhanced relies on the dielectric response of the chosen material as well as the fabrication accuracy. Here, we provide an overview of available high-index materials and existing fabrication techniques for the realization of all-dielectric nanostructures. We compare performance of the chosen materials in the visible and IR spectral ranges in terms of scattering efficiencies and Q factors of the magnetic Mie resonance. Methods for all-dielectric nanostructure fabrication are discussed and their advantages and disadvantages are highlighted. We also present an outlook for the search for better materials with higher refractive indices and novel fabrication methods that will enable low-cost manufacturing of optically resonant high-index nanoparticles. We believe that this information will be valuable across the field of nanophotonics and particularly for the design of resonant all-dielectric nanostructures.

An antenna model for the Purcell effect

The Purcell effect is defined as a modification of the spontaneous emission rate of a quantum emitter at the presence of a resonant cavity. However, a change of the emission rate of an emitter caused by an environment has a classical counterpart. Any small antenna tuned to a resonance can be described as an oscillator with radiative losses, and the effect of the environment on its radiation can be modeled and measured in terms of the antenna radiation resistance, similar to a quantum emitter. We exploit this analogue behavior to develop a general approach for calculating the Purcell factors of different systems and various frequency ranges including both electric and magnetic Purcell factors. Our approach is illustrated by a general equivalent scheme, and it allows resenting the Purcell factor through the continuous radiation of a small antenna at the presence of an electromagnetic environment.

Experimental demonstration of superdirective dielectric antenna

We propose and demonstrate experimentally a simple approach for achieving superdirectivity of emitted radiation for electrically small antennas based on a spherical dielectric resonator with a notch excited by a dipole source. Superdirectivity is achieved without using complex antenna arrays and for a wide range of frequencies. We also demonstrate the steering effect for a subwavelength displacement of the source. Finally, unlike previously known superdirective antennas, our design has significantly smaller losses, at the operation frequency radiation efficiency attains 80%, and matching holds in the 3%-wide frequency band without any special matching technique.