Polarization conversion with elliptical patch nanoantennas

In this paper, we demonstrate arrays of optical patch nanoantennas can convert light polarization through reflection. By breaking the azimuthal symmetry, elliptical plasmonic patch nanoantennas exhibit both even and odd cavity modes, which can be expressed by Mathieu functions. It is shown that by properly orienting the incident polarization, a linearly polarized light in resonance with one cavity mode can be converted into an elliptical or circular polarization after reflection. Since the major cavity modes can be excited at all incident angles, the polarization conversion by these elliptical patch nanoantennas can be realized with wide range of incident angles. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4731792]