Manipulating near field polarization beyond the diffraction limit

We introduce a new optical nanoantenna structure with three-fold rotational symmetry. The proposed gold nanoantenna can produce a hot spot with circular polarization in the gap. The effect of the shape of the arms and geometrical imperfection on the optical response is examined. We introduce a figure of merit for practical applications that utilize the circular polarization. The figure of merit is more sensitive to changes of the geometry than the maximum near field amplitude or the maximum circular polarization. The relatively equivalent optical response of the proposed nanoantenna compared to its counterparts and its reasonable stability against small changes accompanied with its simpler structure design makes it more appropriate for experimentalists.