Control of single emitter radiation by polarization- and position-dependent activation of dark antenna modes

We study the modification of the decay rates of a single dipolar emitter positioned in the vicinity of metallic linear nanoantennas when higher-order plasmonic excitations are induced. We show that it is possible to effectively tune the enhancement or suppression of both the radiative and nonradiative decay processes by controlling the position and orientation of the dipole with respect to the antenna. Transverse polarization of a single emitter, with respect to the antenna axis, located at the center of the antenna activates dark antenna modes that modify dramatically both the intensity and the spectral features of the decay rates. © 2012 Optical Society of America.Financial support from the WELCOME program “Hybrid nanostructures as a stepping-stone towards efficient artificial photosynthesis” awarded by the Foundation for Polish Science and from the ETORTEK 2011 “nanoiker” of the Department of the Industry of the Basque Country Government are gratefully acknowledged.Peer Reviewe