Nanoantennas for visible and infrared radiation

TLDR

Nanoantennas for visible and infrared radiation strongly enhance light–matter interaction by efficiently coupling propagating and localized optical fields, enabling applications from nanoscale microscopy and spectroscopy to solar energy conversion, integrated nanocircuitry, optoelectronics, density‑of‑states engineering, ultra‑sensing, and nonlinear optical enhancement. Here we review the current understanding of optical antennas based on the background of both well‑developed radio‑wave antenna engineering and the emerging field of plasmonics. We address the plasmonic behavior arising from very high optical frequencies and the constraints on antenna materials and geometry imposed by nanofabrication. We briefly review the current status of the field and highlight major established and emerging lines of investigation in this vivid area of research.

Abstract

Nanoantennas for visible and infrared radiation can strongly enhance the interaction of light with nanoscale matter by their ability to efficiently link propagating and spatially localized optical fields. This ability unlocks an enormous potential for applications ranging from nanoscale optical microscopy and spectroscopy over solar energy conversion, integrated optical nanocircuitry, opto-electronics and density-ofstates engineering to ultra-sensing as well as enhancement of optical nonlinearities. Here we review the current understanding of optical antennas based on the background of both well-developed radiowave antenna engineering and the emerging field of plasmonics. In particular, we address the plasmonic behavior that emerges due to the very high optical frequencies involved and the limitations in the choice of antenna materials and geometrical parameters imposed by nanofabrication. Finally, we give a brief account of the current status of the field and the major established and emerging lines of investigation in this vivid area of research.