Open AccessRefractive micro-optical elements for surface plasmons: from classical to gradient index optics
Author(s) -
Éloïse Devaux,
Jean-Yves Laluet,
Benedikt Stein,
Cyriaque Genet,
Thomas W. Ebbesen,
Jean-Claude Weeber,
Alain Dereux
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.020610
Subject(s) - surface plasmon , refractive index , optics , metamaterial , plasmon , materials science , surface plasmon polariton , dielectric , optoelectronics , nanophotonics , physics
Controlling the propagation of surface plasmons along a metal-dielectric interface is a key feature for the development of surface plasmon based circuits. We have designed various two-dimensional refractive dielectric optical elements for surface plasmons (SP) and characterized their capacity to route SP, using near- or far-field techniques. We first present basic devices analogous to usual optical components and the associated challenges for SP optics. We then use a metamaterial approach to locally vary the refractive index and fabricate gradient index structures for SP circuitry.