title: Nonreciprocal switching of VO(2) thin films on microstructured surfaces.
abstract: We demonstrate that the combination of near-field focusing and a switchable oxide layer permits construction of a modulator with different optical switching thresholds in two opposing directions. For that purpose VO(2) layers are deposited onto spherical micrometer-sized particles. The phase transition in VO(2) is induced by a nanosecond-pulsed Nd:YAG laser from two different directions. The measured thresholds differ by a factor of 2.4, consistent with calculated differences in the intensities in the two directions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Işik University, Sile Istanbul 34980, Turkey. ikarakurt@isikun.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Karakurt
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leiderer
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boneberg
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Haglund