Broadband localized electric field enhancement produced by a single-element plasmonic nanoantenna

Abstract

We propose a novel design of a broadband plasmonic nanoantenna, investigate it numerically using finite-difference time-domain methods, and explain its performance using the analysis of charge distribution in addition to a multipole expansion. The custom-designed single-element nanoantenna consists of a modified gold ring structure with a bowtie-shaped spike inside. In contrast to the spectral response of extinction, the broadband localized electric field intensity enhancement is achieved over a bandwidth of 850 nm in the near infrared spectrum. Up to 26- and 22-fold field enhancements near the bowtie spike are obtained at the peak and even in the dip region of the extinction spectrum, respectively. Moreover, the nanostructure exhibits high tunability of its spectral features by modifying the structural parameters. We further demonstrate that the proposed nanoantenna can provide broadband spontaneous emission rates and quantum efficiency enhancements when a low-quantum efficiency emitter is introduced.