Control of scattering by isolated dielectric nanoantennas

Abstract In this chapter the fundamentals and applications of light scattering by isolated dielectric nanoantennas are introduced. Both theoretical concepts and experimental realizations of several types of dielectric nanoantennas are presented, with particular emphasis in the far-field interference effects arising from the simultaneous excitation of electric and magnetic optical modes in those systems. We start by considering the simplest case: a single small dielectric particle, and we show how scattering anisotropy and strong directionality can be achieved. We subsequently present several strategies towards obtaining more sophisticated nanoantennas, with enhanced and more complex performance. In particular, we cover multi-particle systems, complex geometries and higher-order multipolar effects as well as substrate-induced effects, and we show how these can be used to tailor the scattering characteristics of the nanoantennas.