Abstract

Optical nanoantennas are known to couple far-field radiation to spatially localized optical fields, and vice versa. This ability of optical antennas to strongly localize and enhance optical fields can be applied in number of novel applications such as in high resolution microscopy, spectroscopy, bio-nanosensors, efficient photodetectors, light-emitting devices, and photovoltaics [1]. To realize the applications it is crucial to control and optimize local plasmonic fields at the antenna on sub-wavelength scale. Several routes have been explored to gain control on the interaction of nanoantennas with single emitter, yet full control remains challenging [2-4]. Here, we present standalone antenna probes, which afford unlimited manipulation on the nanoscale. Aluminum is chosen as plasmonic material because of its distinct properties such as low skin depth at optical frequencies.

© 2013 IEEE