Tuning of magnetic optical response in a dielectric nanoparticle by ultrafast photo-injection of dense electron-hole plasma

Abstract

We propose a novel approach for efficient tuning of optical properties of a high refractive index subwavelength nanoparticle with a magnetic Mie-type resonance by means of femtosecond laser irradiation. This concept is based on ultrafast photo-injection of dense (>10^20 cm^-3) electron-hole plasma within such nanoparticle, drastically changing its transient dielectric permittivity. This allows to manipulate by both electric and magnetic nanoparticle responses, resulting in dramatic changes of its scattering diagram and scattering cross section. We experimentally demonstrate 20 % tuning of reflectance of a single silicon nanoparticle by femtosecond laser pulses with wavelength in the vicinity of the magnetic dipole resonance. Such single-particle nanodevice enables to design fast and ultracompact optical switchers and modulators.