Ultracompact all-dielectric superdirective antennas

Abstract

We demonstrate a simple way to achieve superdirectivity of electrically small antennas based on a spherical dielectric particle with a notch. We predict this effect theoretically for nanoantennas excited by a point-like emitter located in the notch, and then confirm it experimentally at microwaves for a ceramic sphere excited by a small wire dipole. We explain the effect of superdirectivity by the resonant excitation of high-order multipole modes of electric and magnetic fields which are usually negligible for small perfect spherical particles.