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arXiv · 1010.1854

Coherent control of nanoscale light localization in metamaterial: creating and positioning a sub-wavelength energy hot-spot

T. S. Kao·S. D. Jenkins·J. Ruostekoski·N. I. Zheludev
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Abstract

Precise control and manipulation of optical fields on a nanoscale is one of the most important and challenging problems in "nanophotonics". Since optical wavelength is on a much larger microscale, it is impossible to employ conventional focusing for that purpose. We show the strong optically-induced interactions between discrete meta-molecules in a metamaterial system and coherent monochromatic continuous light beam with a spatially-tailored phase profile can be used to prepare a sub-wavelength scale energy localization. Well isolated energy hot-spots as small as $λ/10$ can be created and positioned at will on the metamaterial landscape offering new opportunities for data storage and imaging applications.

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T. S. Kao, S. D. Jenkins, J. Ruostekoski, N. I. Zheludev. 2010-10-12. Coherent control of nanoscale light localization in metamaterial: creating and positioning a sub-wavelength energy hot-spot. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.106.085501

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