Magneto-optical activity in nonmagnetic hyperbolic nanoparticles

in Physical Review Letters (2021), 127

Active nanophotonics can be realized by controlling the optical properties of materials with external magnetic fields. Here, we explore the influence of optical anisotropy on the magneto-optical activity ... [more ▼]

Active nanophotonics can be realized by controlling the optical properties of materials with external magnetic fields. Here, we explore the influence of optical anisotropy on the magneto-optical activity in non-magnetic hyperbolic nanoparticles. We demonstrate that the magneto-optical response is driven by fundamental electric and magnetic dipole modes induced by the hyperbolic dispersion. Magnetic circular dichroism experiments confirm the theoretical predictions and reveal tunable magneto-optical activity across the visible and near infrared spectral range. [less ▲]

Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy of Bright and Dark Modes in Hyperbolic Metamaterial Nanostructures

in Advanced Optical Materials (2020), 8(13), 2000277

Layered metal/dielectric hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs) support a wide landscape of plasmon polariton excitations. In addition to surface plasmon polaritons, coupled Bloch-like gap-plasmon polaritons ... [more ▼]

Layered metal/dielectric hyperbolic metamaterials (HMMs) support a wide landscape of plasmon polariton excitations. In addition to surface plasmon polaritons, coupled Bloch-like gap-plasmon polaritons with high modal confinement inside the multilayer are supported. Photons can excite only a subset of these polaritonic modes, typically with a limited energy and momentum range in respect to the wide set of high-K modes supported by hyperbolic dispersion media, and coupling with gratings or local excitation is necessary. Strikingly, electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope allows nm-scale local excitation and mapping of the spatial field distribution of all the modes supported by a photonic or plasmonic structure, both bright and dark, and also all other inelastic interactions of the beam, including phonons and interband transitions. Herein, experimental evidence of the spatial distribution of plasmon polaritons in multilayered type II HMM nanostructures is acquired with an aloof electron beam adjacent to structures of current interest. HMM pillars are useful for their separation and adjustability of optical scattering and absorption, while HMM slot cavities can be used as waveguides with high field confinement. The nature of the modes is confirmed with corresponding simulations of EEL and optical spectra and near-field intensities. [less ▲]

Hyperbolic Meta-Antennas Enable Full Control of Scattering and Absorption of Light

in Nano Letters (2019), 19(3), 1851-1859

We introduce a novel concept of hybrid metal-dielectric meta-antenna supporting type II hyperbolic dispersion, which enables full control of absorption and scattering of light in the visible/near-infrared ... [more ▼]

We introduce a novel concept of hybrid metal-dielectric meta-antenna supporting type II hyperbolic dispersion, which enables full control of absorption and scattering of light in the visible/near-infrared spectral range. This ability lies in the different nature of the localized hyperbolic Bloch-like modes excited within the meta-antenna. The experimental evidence is corroborated by a comprehensive theoretical study. In particular, we demonstrate that two main modes, one radiative and one non-radiative, can be excited by direct coupling with the free-space radiation. We show that the scattering is the dominating electromagnetic decay channel, when an electric dipolar mode is induced in the system, whereas a strong absorption process occurs when a magnetic dipole is excited. Also, by varying the geometry of the system, the relative ratio of scattering and absorption, as well as their relative enhancement and/or quenching, can be tuned at will over a broad spectral range, thus enabling full control of the two channels. Importantly, both radiative and nonradiative modes supported by our architecture can be excited directly with far-field radiation. This is observed to occur even when the radiative channels (scattering) are almost totally suppressed, thereby making the proposed architecture suitable for practical applications. Finally, the hyperbolic meta-antennas possess both angular and polarization independent structural integrity, unlocking promising applications as hybrid meta-surfaces or as solvable nanostructures. [less ▲]