Spin-polarization control of in-plane scattering in arrays of asymmetric U-shaped nanoantennas

Abstract

Abstract We study projection-enabled enhancement of asymmetric optical responses of plasmonic metasurfaces for photon-spin control of their far field scattering. Such a process occurs by detecting the light scattered by arrays of asymmetric U-shaped nanoantennas along their planes (in-plane scattering). The nanoantennas are considered to have relatively long bases and two unequal arms. Therefore, as their view angles along the planes of the arrays are changed, they offer an extensive range of shape and size projections, providing a wide control over the contributions of plasmonic near fields and multipolar resonances to the far field scattering of the arrays. We show that this increases the degree of the asymmetric spin-polarization responses of the arrays to circularly polarized light, offering a large amount of chirality. In particular, our results show the in-plane scattering of such metasurfaces can support opposite handedness, offering the possibility of photon spin-dependent directional control of energy routing.