Parallel, series, and intermediate interconnections of optical nanocircuit elements 2 Nanocircuit and physical interpretation

Abstract

Applying the analytical closed-form solutions of the quasi-static potential distribution around two conjoined resonant half-cylinders with different permittivities, reported in the first part of this manuscript, here we interpret these results in terms of our nanocircuit paradigm applicable to nanoparticles at infrared and optical frequencies [Phys. Rev. Lett.95, 095504 (2005)]. We investigate the possibility of connecting in series and parallel configurations plasmonic and/or dielectric nanoparticles acting as nanocircuit elements, with a goal for the design of a more-complex nanocircuit system with the desired response. The present analysis fully validates the heuristic predictions regarding the parallel and series combination of a pair of nanocircuit elements depending on their relative orientation with respect to the field polarization. Moreover, the geometries under analysis present interesting peculiar features in their wave interaction, such as an intermediate stage between the parallel and series configurations, which may be of interest for certain applications. In particular, the resonant nanocircuit configuration analyzed here may dramatically change, in a continuous way, its effective total impedance by simply rotating its orientation with respect to the polarization of the impressed optical electric field, providing a novel optical nanodevice that may alter its function by rotation with respect to the impressed optical local field.