Spectroscopy and imaging of arrays of nanorods toward nanopolarimetry

The polarization dependence of the optical scattering properties of two-dimensional arrays of metal nanostructures with sub-wavelength dimensions (nanoantennas) has been investigated. Arrays of 500 nm x 100 nm gold nanorods covering a 100 x 100 mu m(2) area were fabricated with varying orientations on an electrically conductive substrate. The experimental and computational analysis of the angularly organized nanorods suggest potential use toward the development of an integrated polarimeter. Using the gold nanorods on a transparent substrate as a preliminary system, we show that in the proper spectral range the scattering properties of the structures may be tuned for such an application.