Open AccessMutual mode control of short- and long-range surface plasmons
Author(s) -
Junichi Takahara,
Masashi Miyata
Publication year - 2013
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.21.027402
Subject(s) - surface plasmon , surface plasmon polariton , plasmon , optics , equilibrium mode distribution , radiation mode , materials science , excitation , mode (computer interface) , waveguide , surface wave , optoelectronics , range (aeronautics) , localized surface plasmon , slab , single mode optical fiber , physics , optical fiber , quantum mechanics , geophysics , computer science , composite material , operating system
A symmetric metal slab waveguide simultaneously supports two opposite types of propagation mode similar to a metal film: short-range surface plasmon (SRSP) like mode and long-range surface plasmon (LRSP) like mode. The strong field confinement of SRSP-like mode plays a crucial role for nano-optical integrated circuits in spite of short propagation length. In order to avoid the trade-off between field confinement and propagation length, we demonstrate selective mode excitation and mutual mode conversion for nanofocusing mediated by LRSP-like mode.