A Hertzian Plasmonic Nanodimer as an Efficient Optical Nanoantenna

TL;DR

This paper explores a plasmonic nanodimer designed as an efficient optical nanoantenna, utilizing nanocircuit concepts to optimize radiation efficiency and tunability despite metal absorption losses.

Contribution

It introduces a novel design of a Hertzian plasmonic nanodimer nanoantenna with tunable properties using nanoloads, applying nanocircuit modeling for enhanced efficiency.

Findings

Achieved high optical radiation efficiency with realistic metal absorption.

Demonstrated tunability of the nanoantenna via nanoload design.

Validated nanocircuit modeling for nanoantenna optimization.

Abstract

Inspired by the geometry and shape of the classical radio-frequency radiator, the Hertzian dipole, here we analyze the design of a plasmonic optical dimer nanoantenna. We show how it may be possible to operate a pair of closely spaced spherical nanoparticles as an efficient optical nanoradiator, and how its tuning and matching properties may be tailored with great degree of freedom by designing suitable nanoloads placed at the dimer's gap. In this sense, we successfully apply nanocircuit concepts to model the loading nanoparticles. High levels of optical radiation efficiency are achieved, even considering the realistic absorption of optical metals, thanks to this specific geometry and design.