Antennas, transmission lines, and resonators at optical frequencies

Resonant optical antennas, two-wire transmission lines, and related resonators are investigated by FDTD simulations and realized experimentally. Resonant optical antennas exhibit a large local field enhancement which can be used to efficiently launch a quasi-TE mode into a two-wire transmission line. The high reflectivity at an open end of the waveguide inspires the use of short pieces of two-wire transmission line as efficient resonators to enhance light-matter interaction.