Spectrally and spatially configurable superlenses for optoplasmonic nanocircuits

Abstract

Energy transfer between photons and molecules and between neighboring molecules is ubiquitous in living nature, most prominently in photosynthesis. While energy transfer is efficiently utilized by living systems, its adoption to connect individual components in man-made plasmonic nanocircuits has been challenged by low transfer efficiencies that motivate the development of entirely new concepts for energy transfer.We introduce herein optoplasmonic superlenses that combine the capability of optical microcavities to insulate molecule-photon systems from decohering environmental effects with the superior light nanoconcentration properties of nanoantennas. The proposed structures provide significant enhancement of the emitter radiative rate and efficient long-range transfer of emitted photons followed by subsequent refocusing into nanoscale volumes accessible to near- and far-field detection. Optoplasmonic superlenses are versatile building blocks for optoplasmonic nanocircuits and can be used to construct "dark" single-molecule sensors, resonant amplifiers, nanoconcentrators, frequency multiplexers, demultiplexers, energy converters, and dynamical switches.