D. A. Smirnova, A. I. Smirnov, A. A. Zharov, “Two-dimensional plasmonic eigenmode nanolocalization in an inhomogeneous metal-dielectric-metal slot waveguide”, Pis'ma v Zh. Èksper. Teoret. Fiz., 2012, Volume 96, Issue 4,Pages <nobr>262

This article is cited in 3 papers

CONDENSED MATTER

Two-dimensional plasmonic eigenmode nanolocalization in an inhomogeneous metal-dielectric-metal slot waveguide

D. A. Smirnova^a, A. I. Smirnov^b, A. A. Zharov^ab

^a Institute for Physics of Microstructures, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhnii Novgorod
^b Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhnii Novgorod

Abstract: We show that transverse, with respect to the propagation direction, local narrowing of a metal-dielectric-metal plasmonic slot waveguide leads to a two-dimensional surface plasmon nanolocalization and can squeeze the plasmon eigenmode into a spot with a characteristic size of about several tens of nanometers. We demonstrate that the simultaneous waveguide tapering and decreasing transverse narrowing scale make possible an enhancement of the plasmon propagation distance in comparison with the homogeneous waveguide. We also find the fundamental limit of 2D plasmon nanolocalization, which is of the same order as the depth of penetration of the electromagnetic field into a metal which is actually independent of the field frequency in the near infrared domain.

Received: 10.05.2012
Revised: 06.06.2012

Language: English