Abstract

Recent theoretical and experimental results indicate that focused light and plasmonic antennas represent an effective approach to improve light-matter interaction at a fundamental level. This opportunity relies on the fact that the coupling is greatly enhanced when photons are concentrated below the emitter cross-section [1]. Plasmonic antennas are metal nanostructures that boost the absorption and radiation of optical energy by an emitter like conventional antennas do at radio frequencies for electronic circuits. While focused beams are subject to the diffraction limit, with plasmonic antennas photons can be funneled into nanoscale dimensions to enhance interaction processes with tiny cross-sections [2].

© 2011 IEEE