Dynamically reconfigurable metal-semiconductor Yagi-Uda nanoantenna

Journal article, 2017

We theoretically investigate the properties of a tunable Yagi-Uda nanoantenna composed of metal-dielectric (Ag-Ge) core-shell nanoparticles. We show that, due to the combination of two types of resonances in each nanoparticle, such hybrid Yagi-Uda nanoantenna can operate in two different regimes. Besides the conventional nonresonant operation regime at low frequencies, characterized by highly directive emission in the forward direction, there is another one at higher frequencies caused by a hybrid magneto-electric response of the core-shell nanoparticles. This regime is based on the excitation of the van Hove singularity, and emission in this regime is accompanied by high values of directivity and Purcell factor within the same narrow frequency range. Our analysis reveals the possibility of flexible dynamical tuning of the hybrid nanoantenna emission pattern via electron-hole plasma excitation by 100 fs pump pulse with relatively low peak intensities similar to 200 MWcm(-2).