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arXiv · 1712.05383

Active Polarization Control with a Parity-Time Symmetric Plasmonic Resonator

Brian Baum·Mark Lawrence·David Barton·Hadiseh Alaeian·Jennifer Dionne
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Abstract

Control of the polarization state of light is essential for many technologies, but is often limited by weak light-matter interactions that necessitate long device path lengths or significantly reduce the signal intensity. Here, we investigate a nanoscale plasmonic aperture capable of modifying the polarization state of far-field transmitted light without loss in the probe signal. The aperture is a coaxial resonator consisting of a dielectric ring embedded within a metallic film; parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetric inclusions of loss and gain within the dielectric ring enable polarization control. Since the coaxial aperture enables near-thresholdless $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry breaking, polarization control is achieved with realistic levels of loss and gain. Exploiting this sensitivity, we show that the aperture can function as a tunable waveplate, with the transmitted ellipticity of circularly polarized incident light changing continuously with the dissipation coefficient from $π/2$ to 0 (i.e. linear polarization). Rotation of linearly polarized light with unity efficiency is also possible, with a continuously-tunable degree of rotation. This compact, low-threshold, and reconfigurable polarizer may enable next-generation, high-efficiency displays, routers, modulators, and metasurfaces.

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Brian Baum, Mark Lawrence, David Barton, Hadiseh Alaeian, Jennifer Dionne. 2018-05-17. Active Polarization Control with a Parity-Time Symmetric Plasmonic Resonator. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.98.165418

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