Enhancing spin-orbit interaction of light by plasmonic nanostructures

Abstract

The spin orbit interactions (SOI) of light mediated by single scattering from plasmon resonant metal nanoparticles (nanorods and nanospheres) are investigated using explicit theory based on Jones and Stokes-Mueller polarimetry formalism. The individual SOI effects are analyzed and interpreted via the Mueller matrix-derived, polarimetry characteristics, namely, diattenuation d and retardance {\delta}. The results demonstrate that each of the contributing SOI effects can be controllably enhanced by exploiting the interference of two neighboring modes in plasmonic nanostructures (orthogonal electric dipolar modes in rods or electric dipolar and quadrupolar modes in spheres).