Highly resonant and directional optical nanoantennas

Plasmonic nanoantennas permit many functional components for future generations of nanoscale optical devices. They have been intensively studied and means were devised to engineer their optical response. However, as a metal-based resonator, the low quality factor of a plasmonic antenna hinders its further applications. Here, we propose a novel design to improve the quality factor of a dipolar nanoantenna by combining it with plasmonic Bragg gratings. This specific antenna design can support extraordinary sharp resonances and highly directional emissivity. Therefore, it promises to achieve many novel applications, e.g., in the field of cavity quantum electrodynamics where the strong coupling regime for light and matter comes in reach.