Broadband active tuning of unidirectional scattering from nanoantenna using combined radially and azimuthally polarized beams

Abstract

We propose an approach to actively tune the scattering pattern of a Mie-type spherical antenna. The scheme is based on separate control over the induced electric dipole and induced magnetic dipole using two coherent focused beams of radial polarization and azimuthal polarization. By carefully tuning the amplitude and phase relation of the two beams, a broadband unidirectional scattering can be achieved, even at the wavelength where the antenna scatters most efficiently. By moving the focus of one beam, a drastic switch of the unidirectional scattering can be observed. Such scheme enables the design of ultra-compact optical switches and directional couplers based on nanoantennas.