Enhancing or suppressing spin Hall effect of light in layered nanostructures

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical study on controlling the spin Hall effect of light in layered nanostructures, demonstrating how to enhance or suppress the effect by adjusting structural parameters, with potential applications in nano-photonics.

Contribution

A general propagation model for the spin Hall effect of light in layered nanostructures is developed, revealing control mechanisms via optical resonance effects.

Findings

Transverse displacement can be tuned to positive, negative, or zero values.

Optical Fabry-Perot resonance underpins the control of SHE.

Potential for designing new nano-photonic devices.

Abstract

The spin Hall effect (SHE) of light in layered nanostructures is investigated theoretically in this paper. A general propagation model describing the spin-dependent transverse splitting in the SHE of light is established from the viewpoint of classical electrodynamics. We show that the transverse displacement of wave-packet centroid can be tuned to either a negative or a positive value, or even zero, by just adjusting the structure parameters, suggesting that the SHE of light in layered nanostructures can be enhanced or suppressed in a desired way. The inherent secret behind this interesting phenomenon is the optical Fabry-Perot resonance in the layered nanostructure. We believe that these findings will open the possibility for developing new nano-photonic devices.