Design and Analysis of Nanoantenna Arrays for Imaging and Sensing Applications at Optical Frequencies

Abstract

We present computational analysis of nanoantenna arrays for imaging and sensing applications at optical frequencies. Arrays of metallic nanoantennas are considered in an accurate simulation environment based on surface integral equations and the multilevel fast multipole algorithm developed for plasmonic structures. Near-zone responses of the designed arrays to nearby nanoparticles are investigated in detail to demonstrate the feasibility of detection. We show that both metallic and dielectric nanoparticles, even with subwavelength dimensions, can be detected.

Role of Nanomaterials in the Fabrication of bioNEMS/MEMS for Biomedical Applications and towards Pioneering Food Waste Utilisation

“…Aside from high-speed communication, nanoantenna radiation and electromagnetic wave properties have the potential to be used for biosensing and imaging [154,158], energy harvesting [159], optical circuits [160], and in vitro and in vivo applications [161]. Table 4 summarises the benefits of nanomaterials-based nanoantennas for wireless sensing technology and healthcare applications.…”

Computational design of nanoantennas with improved power enhancement capabilities via shape optimization

“…Nanoantennas—structures fabricated in nanometer scales and used in diverse nanooptical applications—have become increasingly important in the scientific and technical literature, in parallel to advances in nanotechnology 1 – 38 As opposed to the traditional antennas used at radio and microwave frequencies, nanoantennas can be described, in terms of working principles, as small antennas that operate at THz and optical frequencies. In this perspective, a nanoantenna that operates as a receiver can gather electromagnetic waves at optical frequencies and direct them to its terminals, enabling optical energy harvesting.…”

“…Similarly, a nanoantenna operating as a transmitter makes it possible to detect nearby particles (e.g., located in its terminal) from far zone, which can be useful in a plethora of applications, such as bio-sensing. Although most (particularly earlier) studies on nanoantennas have investigated relatively simple geometries, such as bowtie, 1 , 2 , 8 , 10 monopole/dipole, 4 , 6 , 12 , 23 , 28 disk (or its inversion, i.e., hole), 7 , 38 sphere, 16 as well as their arrays (e.g., Yagi-Uda structures), 11 , 13 , 15 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 36 , 37 mainly considering restrictions in experimental setups, relatively complex shapes (e.g., fractal, 3 cross-shaped, 21 flower-shaped, 26 spiral, 27 horn-shaped, 31 tapered, 33 log-periodic, 34 , 35 and combinations with other nanostructures 32 ) have also been studied. In fact, besides the basic material, 19 , 20 geometry is one of the most important factors for the performance of a nanoantenna, 29 and new advances in nanoscale fabrication techniques encourage researchers to resort alternative shapes, which can demonstrate desired capabilities (in terms of bandwidth, directivity, field enhancement, etc.)…”