We experimentally demonstrated Fano resonance in metamaterials composed of asymmetric double bars (ADBs) in the optical region. ADB metamaterials were fabricated by a lift-off method, and the optical spectra were measured. Around a wavelength of 1100 nm, measured optical spectra clearly showed sharp Fano resonance due to weak asymmetry of the ADB structures. The highest-quality factor (Q-factor) of the Fano resonance was 7.34. Calculated spectra showed the same tendency as the experimental spectra. Moreover, in a Fano resonant condition, out of phase of induced current flowing along each bar was revealed by electromagnetic field calculations. These antiphase currents decreased radiative loss of the Fano mode, resulting in a high Q-factor of the Fano resonance in ADB metamaterials. As the degree of asymmetry became small, the Q-factor decreased, and the Fano resonance disappeared because the effect of Joule loss became significant.

We experimentally demonstrated multiple Fano resonances in optical metamaterials. By combination of two different sized asymmetric-double-bar (ADB) structures, triple Fano resonance was observed in the near-infrared region. In addition to Fano resonance due to anti-phase modes in isolated ADB structures, an anti-phase mode due to coupling among different sized ADBs was observed. Dependence of characteristics of resonances on size difference was also investigated. At specific conditions of size difference, quality factors of three Fano resonances were improved compared with ADB metamaterials consisting of one kind of ADBs. The results will help to realize applications using metamaterial resonators with multiple functionalities and high performance.

We demonstrated fine emission wavelength tuning of quantum dot (QD) fluorescence by fine structural control of optical metamaterials with Fano resonance. An asymmetric-double-bar (ADB), which was composed of only two bars with slightly different bar lengths, was used to obtain Fano resonance in the optical region. By changing the short bar length of ADB structures with high dimensional accuracy in the order of 10 nm, resonant wavelengths of Fano resonance were controlled from 1296 to 1416 nm. Fluorescence of QDs embedded in a polymer layer on ADB metamaterials were modified due to coupling to Fano resonance and fine tuning from 1350 to 1376 nm was observed. Wavelength tuning of modified fluorescence was reproduced by analysis using absorption peaks of Fano resonance. Tuning range of modified fluorescence became narrow, which was interpreted by a simple Gaussian model and resulted from comparable FWHM in QD fluorescence and Fano resonant peaks. The results will help the design and fabrication of metamaterial devices with fluorophores such as light sources and biomarkers.

By changing unit cell configurations, we demonstrated enhancement of quality factors (Q-factors) of Fano resonance in optical metamaterials composed of asymmetric double bars. The Q-factors of Fano resonance at wavelengths around 1500 nm were extracted from absorption spectra, and the dependence of the degree of asymmetry was studied. Observed enhancement is qualitatively interpreted by dipole-dipole interactions, and destructive interactions were essential for achieving high Q-factors. These results will be useful for improving performance of potential applications using metamaterial resonators such as light emitting devises and sensors.

We propose and demonstrate the strategy to control bi-anisotropic response in three-dimensional split-ring-resonators (3D-SRRs) array for purely magnetic resonance in the mid-infrared region. By using a metal-stress-driven self-folding method, inversion symmetry along a propagation axis of 3D-SRRs was controlled. The inversion symmetry of 3D-SRRs realized non-bi-anisotropic response of a magnetic resonant mode at around 10 μm in wavelength resulting in purely magnetic resonance with high transmission of 70%. Highly transparent purely magnetic artificial elements demonstrated in this study will be a key component for functional applications using artificial magnetism at the optical frequencies.