Juan José Sáenz

Demonstration of Zero Optical Backscattering from Single Nanoparticles

We present the first experimental demonstration of zero backscattering from nanoparticles at optical frequencies as originally discussed by Kerker et al. [ Kerker , M. ; Wang , D. ; Giles , C. J. Opt. Soc. A 1983 , 73 , 765 ]. GaAs pillars were fabricated on a fused silica substrate and the spectrum of the backscattered radiation was measured in the wavelength range 600-1000 nm. Suppression of backscattering occurred at ~725 nm, agreeing with calculations based on the discrete dipole approximation. Particles with zero backscattering provide new functionality for metamaterials and optical antennas.

Extraordinary optical reflection from sub-wavelength cylinder arrays.

A multiple scattering analysis of the reflectance of a periodic array of sub-wavelength cylinders is presented. The optical properties and their dependence on wavelength, geometrical parameters and cylinder dielectric constant are analytically derived for both s- and p-polarized waves. In absence of Mie resonances and surface (plasmon) modes, and for positive cylinder polarizabilities, the reflectance presents sharp peaks close to the onset of new diffraction modes (Rayleigh frequencies). At the lowest resonance frequency, and in the absence of absorption, the wave is perfectly reflected even for vanishingly small cylinder radii.

Nanogeometry Matters: Unexpected Decrease of Capillary Adhesion Forces with Increasing Relative Humidity

The sticking effect between hydrophilic surfaces occurring at increasing relative humidity (RH) is an everyday phenomenon with uncountable implications. Here experimental evidence is presented for a counterintuitive monotonous decrease of the capillary adhesion forces between hydrophilic surfaces with increasing RH for the whole humidity range. It is shown that this unexpected result is related to the actual shape of the asperity at the nanometer scale: a model based on macroscopic thermodynamics predicts this decrease in the adhesion force for a sharp object ending in an almost flat nanometer-sized apex, in full agreement with experiments. This anomalous decrease is due to the fact that a significant growth of the liquid meniscus formed at the contact region with increasing humidity is hindered for this geometry. These results are relevant in the analysis of the dynamical behavior of nanomenisci. They could also have an outstanding value in technological applications, since the undesirable sticking effect between surfaces occurring at increasing RH could be avoided by controlling the shape of the surface asperities at the nanometric scale.

Optical resonances in one-dimensional dielectric nanorod arrays: field-induced fluorescence enhancement.

Arrays of transparent dielectric nanorods are shown to produce very large local field enhancements at specific resonant conditions. These structures would lead to enhancement of molecular fluorescence signals without quenching. The resonant angular width and field enhancements are analytically derived as a function of wavelength, grating period, rod radius, and dielectric constant.

Sensing with magnetic dipolar resonances in semiconductor nanospheres.

In this work we propose two novel sensing principles of detection that exploit the magnetic dipolar Mie resonance in high-refractive-index dielectric nanospheres. In particular, we theoretically investigate the spectral evolution of the extinction and scattering cross sections of these nanospheres as a function of the refractive index of the external medium (next). Unlike resonances in plasmonic nanospheres, the spectral position of magnetic resonances in high-refractive-index nanospheres barely shifts as next changes. Nevertheless, there is a drastic reduction in the extinction cross section of the nanospheres when next increases, especially in the magnetic dipolar spectral region, which is accompanied with remarkable variations in the radiation patterns. Thanks to these changes, we propose two new sensing parameters, which are based on the detection of: i) the intensity variations in the transmitted or backscattered radiation by the dielectric nanospheres at the magnetic dipole resonant frequency, and ii) the changes in the radiation pattern at the frequency that satisfies Kerkers condition of near-zero forward radiation. To optimize the sensitivity, we consider several semiconductor materials and particles sizes.

Near field emission scanning tunneling microscopy

The close proximity between probe and sample in a scanning tunneling microscope interface may produce unwanted modifications of the interface. This is particularly severe when working with soft materials, as molecular films or biomolecules. Here, we propose the operation of the scanning tunneling microscope in the near field emission regime as an effective method to overcome those problems. A theoretical description of the probe–sample interface in the near field emission regime predicts subatomic resolution in the direction normal to the surface and lateral resolution of 3 nm for tip–sample separations of 3–5 nm. Furthermore, atomic resolution is demonstrated by imaging steps of carbon atoms.

Transport of light in amorphous photonic materials

The propagation of light in a dense dielectric depends on refractive index variations determined by the size and shape of the building block as well as structural order. For the case of weak scattering and in the absence of long range order light is spread out diffusively. Perfectly ordered photonic crystals can exhibit forbidden regimes with a vanishing density of states. Strong scattering in amorphous dielectrics can also lead to unusual photonic behavior.

Giant Enhanced Diffusion of Gold Nanoparticles in Optical Vortex Fields

We study the diffusion of a metal nanoparticle in the nonconservative force field of an optical vortex lattice. Radiation pressure in the vortex array is shown to induce a giant enhancement over the free thermal diffusion. Langevin dynamics simulations show that the diffusion coefficient of (50 nm radius) gold particles at room temperature is enhanced by 2 orders of magnitude at power densities of the order or smaller than those used to trap nanoparticles with optical tweezers.

Optical forces from an evanescent wave on a magnetodielectric small particle.

We report the first study on the optical force exerted by an evanescent wave on a small sphere with both electric and magnetic responses to the incident field, immersed in an arbitrary nondissipative medium. New expressions and effects from their gradient, radiation pressure, and curl components are obtained owing to the particle induced electric and magnetic dipoles, as well as to their mutual interaction. We predict possible dramatic changes in the force depending on the host medium, the polarization, and the nature of the surface wave.

Controlling dispersion forces between small particles with artificially created random light fields

Appropriate combinations of laser beams can be used to trap and manipulate small particles with optical tweezers as well as to induce significant optical binding forces between particles. These interaction forces are usually strongly anisotropic depending on the interference landscape of the external fields. This is in contrast with the familiar isotropic, translationally invariant, van der Waals and, in general, Casimir–Lifshitz interactions between neutral bodies arising from random electromagnetic waves generated by equilibrium quantum and thermal fluctuations. Here we show, both theoretically and experimentally, that dispersion forces between small colloidal particles can also be induced and controlled using artificially created fluctuating light fields. Using optical tweezers as a gauge, we present experimental evidence for the predicted isotropic attractive interactions between dielectric microspheres induced by laser-generated, random light fields. These light-induced interactions open a path towards the control of translationally invariant interactions with tuneable strength and range in colloidal systems.