Polarization switching from plasmonic lattice mode to multipolar localized surface plasmon resonances in arrays of large nanoantennas

Abstract

We experimentally investigate plasmonic lattice modes of gold nanoantenna arrays that occur in asymmetric structures containing a silica substrate and either air or a thin layer of a high-index dielectric. Very distinct polarization switching is observed in the nanoantenna arrays wherein by rotating the incident light polarization by ninety degrees, the array can exhibit either a plasmonic lattice mode or a multipolar localized surface plasmon resonance of varying nature. A large range of nanoantenna lengths are studied, and since the length of the nanoantennas dictates the multipolar localized surface plasmon resonance, we find that the characteristics of the polarization switching are affected accordingly. We also investigate how the thin layer of the high-index dielectric on top of the nanoantenna arrays, in conjunction with varying nanoantenna length, impacts the generation of plasmonic lattice modes and the polarization switching in the arrays. The high-index dielectric is found to assist in the generation and optical coupling of the plasmonic lattice modes. By altering the angle of incidence, the polarization switching can become very large, and the arrays can be made to selectively transmit light of certain wavelengths.