Tunable directional beaming from subwavelength metal slits with metal-dielectric composite surface gratings.

A structure for surface-plasmon-polariton mediated directional off-axis beaming with a dynamic tunability of radiation direction is proposed. The key finding in this Letter is that properly designed metal-dielectric composite grating structures surrounding subwavelength metal slit produce a dynamically tunable off-axis beaming effect with variation of the grating permittivity value. The controllability of beam direction by the grating permittivity value opens a way to develop active plasmonic devices based on the beaming effect.