Sensitivity enhancement in TE mode nonlinear planar optical waveguide sensor with metamaterial layer

The dispersion equation of the TE mode nonlinear planar optical waveguide with metamaterial layer was derived, and the sensitivity of the waveguide sensor was analyzed. The influences of structural parameters on the sensitivity of the waveguide sensor were investigated. We verify that the waveguide sensor with metamaterial layer can dramatically enhance the sensitivity compared with other waveguide sensors.     

An acoustic bending waveguide designed by anisotropic density-near-zero metamaterial

Anisotropic metamaterial with only one component of the mass density tensor near zero(ADNZ) is proposed to control the sound wave propagation. We find that such an anisotropic metamaterial can be used to realize perfect bending waveguides. According to a coordinate transformation, the surface waves on the input and output interfaces of the ADNZ metamaterial induces the sound energy flow to be redistributed and match smoothly with the propagating modes inside the metamaterial waveguide. According to the theory of bending waveguide, we realize the "T"-type sound shunting and convergence, as well as acoustic channel selection by embedding small-sized defects. Numerical calculations are performed to confirm the above effects.     

电光聚合物波导中的锥形结构

提出并设计了一种基于电光聚合物的锥形波导,可用于单模光纤与电光聚合物波导器件之间的连接.锥形波导中采用了宽度锥形和折射率锥形结构.宽度锥形采用劈形形状,通过宽度和折射率的缓慢变化实现模场转换.劈形形状的宽度锥形具有较小的损耗且易于制作,折射率锥形可采用灰度掩膜光刻技术制作.研究了锥形波导的传输损耗与锥形波导的长度、波导宽度和厚度、材料吸收损耗等参数的关系及其优化,分析了锥形波导中的功率传输、模场分布与模式转换效率.结果显示锥形波导的传输损耗小于0.37 dB,光纤-波导-光纤的连接损耗优于1.62 dB,对插入损耗的改善达到8.78 dB,模场转换效率达到了83.7%.     

Optical field enhancement in nanoscale slot waveguides of hyperbolic metamaterials

Nanoscale slot waveguides of hyperbolic metamaterials are proposed and demonstrated for achieving large optical field enhancement. The dependence of the enhanced electric field within the air slot on waveguide mode coupling and permittivity tensors of hyperbolic metamaterials is analyzed both numerically and analytically. Optical intensity in the metamaterial slot waveguide can be more than 25 times stronger than that in a conventional silicon slot waveguide, due to tight optical mode confinement enabled by the ultrahigh refractive indices supported in hyperbolic metamaterials. The electric field enhancement effects are also verified with the realistic metal-dielectric multilayer waveguide structure.     

Influence of the polarization and optical axis on the transmission behavior in a one dimensional photonic crystal containing uniaxial metamaterial

In this letter, we introduce a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) structure with a uniaxial metamaterial defect layer. It is proposed to control the transmitted wave of the defect mode by adjusting the orientation of the optical axis and incidence angle for both polarization states. The 4 × 4 transfer matrix method was employed to calculate the transmittance spectrum of the proposed structure. It is shown that the photonic band gaps, the intensity and the peak wavelength of the defect mode depends on the polarization, the orientation of the optical axis and the incidence angle of the wave, due to the strong anisotropy of the metamaterial. The transmittance spectrum curves at different optical axes of the uniaxial metamaterial and the distinct incidence angles are illustrated graphically. It is shown that the defect mode appears as a peak in the transmission spectrum. Pronounced contrasts in the intensity, wavelength positions of the defect mode and photonic band gap were demonstrated depending on the incidence angle and the orientation of the optical axis of the uniaxial metamaterial defect layer for both polarizations. Our structure offers a great variety of possibilities for designing and controlling the transmitted intensity of the defect mode.     

基于PML边界的有限差分法及其在光波导泄漏损耗计算中的应用

利用结合完美匹配层(PML)边界的有限差分法计算了光波导的泄漏损耗.通过采用非均匀格点差分格式和反正切坐标变换的方法,有效地减小了计算量并提高了计算精度.分析了PI(polyimide)掩埋型波导和SOI(silicon-on-insulator)脊型波导两种典型结构的泄漏损耗,给出了波导结构尺寸对泄漏损耗的影响,并对有效减小泄漏损耗的方法进行了讨论.     

Optical modes in a plasmonic waveguide with electrically anisotropic metamaterial

We study the optical modes in a plasmonic waveguide with electrically anisotropic metamaterial and dielectric, including symmetric (anti-symmetric) photonic mode and symmetric (anti-symmetric) plasmonic mode. The dispersion curves for these modes are derived, and a graphical method is used to calculate the solution of symmetric photonic mode and anti-symmetric plasmonic mode. By simulation results the conditions of the existence for these modes are deduced in each case.     

Metamaterial layer in rectangular waveguide

The changes in the dispersion characteristics of modes of isotropic metamaterial layer in a rectangular waveguide have been analyzed. It is shown that metal walls significantly affect the mode dispersion due to the redistribution of energy fluxes and broaden the waveguiding properties of the layer to the propagation range of fast waves. A variation in the waveguide parameters makes it possible, in particular, to implement an interesting class of eigenmodes with fast forward and slow backward waves.     

Full-vectorial analysis of bending waveguides using finite difference method based on H-fields in cylindrical coordinate systems

A full-vectorial (FV) analysis of optical dielectric waveguide bends by using finite difference (FD) method in terms of magnetic field components is developed in a local cylindrical coordinate system. The perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary conditions via the complex coordinate stretching technique are incorporated into the FV wave equations for effectively demonstrating the leaky nature of waveguide bends, and a six-point FD scheme is constructed to approximate the cross-coupling terms for improving the convergent behavior. The leaky modes of a typical rib waveguide bend are calculated and the complex propagation constants and the field patterns for TE- and TM-like modes are obtained. Solutions are good agreement with those from the film mode matching method, which shows the validity and utility of the established method.     

Novel adiabatic structure for stopping light in lossy metamaterial waveguide with active cladding ZnO/Au

To stop the light group velocity by metamaterial waveguides, for applying in several usages is the matter of attention in recent years. The new researches work on compensating losses in metamaterial waveguides with non-zero loss on metamaterial articles. In the present study, a structure of five layers is suggested, in which the side thickness of metamaterial core is variable but the central thickness is constant. In a part of center there located an active ZnO/Au in cladding layer; By pumping a proper magnitude of external optical field with specific wavelength, different from internal optic wavelength to it, there appears a non-linear optical effect. Theoretical and numerical analysis results show that in the mentioned part losses of the waveguide are compensated and exactly equal to the time of the pump pulse, light group velocity will be zero.     

Adiabatic coupling between conventional dielectric waveguides and waveguides with discrete translational symmetry

We study adiabatic transformation in optical waveguides with discrete translational symmetry. We calculate the reflection and transmission coefficient for a structure consisting of a slab waveguide that is adiabatically transformed into a photonic crystal waveguide and then back into a slab waveguide. The calculation yields high transmission over a wide frequency range of the photonic crystal waveguide band and indicates efficient coupling between the slab waveguide and the photonic crystal waveguide. Other applications of adiabatic mode transformation in photonic crystal waveguides and the coupled-resonator optical waveguides are also discussed.     

Anomalous dispersion and group velocity properties in subwavelength uniaxial metamaterial waveguide with metal cladding

We investigate propagation behavior of electromagnetic waves in a slab uniaxial metamaterial waveguide with metal cladding and discuss the dispersion relation, group velocity and energy flux distribution of transverse electric guided modes in two kinds of uniaxial metamaterial waveguides with different orientations of optical axis in detail. The numerical results show that there exist anomalous dispersion properties such as backward modes existing in low-frequency range, and the group velocity can be negative or approach zero. If the orientation of optical axis is selected properly, each guided mode has two dispersion curves—one is normal dispersion and another belongs to anomalous dispersion and shows a transition from a backward mode to a forward one with the angular frequency increasing. In addition, the condition of the existence of cutoff frequency is clarified. These properties may have potential applications in optical information storage, optical communication, integrated optics and nanophotonic devices.     

Vectorial vortex mode transformation for a hollow waveguide using Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical elements

Transformation and inverse transformation between a free-space linearly polarized beam and the vectorial vortex mode of a circular hollow waveguide by use of Pancharatnam-Berry phase optical elements is proposed. Demonstration was achieved by fabricating GaAs subwavelength gratings and utilizing a 300 microm diameter hollow metallic waveguide for 10.6 microm wavelength CO(2) laser radiation. The mode transformations and the excitation of a single vectorial mode inside the hollow waveguide were verified by full polarization measurements. In addition, the inverse mode transformation of the single vectorial mode excitation in the waveguide enabled us to experimentally obtain a linearly polarized bright spot with a high central lobe.     

All optical SRR switch using carbon nanotube composite

This paper presents a new design for all optical SRR metamaterial switch with carbon nanotube (CNT) composite as the nonlinear layer. Because of strong nonlinear effects of CNT composite layer, a low threshold power pump for switching is achieved. The possible fabrication of CNT composite besides the tunable applied frequency, are the main advantages of new designed structure.     

左手介质椭圆光波导基模传播特性

在椭圆柱坐标系中,采用分离变量方法,得出了左手介质椭圆光波导本征方程的近似解,通过数值计算,分析了椭圆波导偏心率、左手介质的电容率、磁导率对椭圆光波导基模传播特性的影响,并将左介质光波导与右手介质光波导基模特性进行对比,得出左手介质光波导的基模特性与右手介质光波导基模特性差别不大的结论.     

Unruh effect in a waveguide

Here we demonstrate that photons launched into a specially designed metamaterial waveguide act as massive quasi-particles, which experience strong acceleration. Laser light propagating through such a waveguide may be used as a thermometer which would measure the Unruh temperature. Moreover, the metamaterial waveguide design may be approximated by a tapered optical waveguide.     

Enhancement of sensitivity in optical waveguide sensors using left-handed materials

We show analytically that the sensitivity of an optical waveguide sensor can be dramatically enhanced by using a metamaterial with negative permittivity and permeability. The variation of the sensitivity of the proposed waveguide sensor with different parameters of the waveguide is studied. It is found that the sensitivity of the sensor increases with the increasing thickness of the metamaterial due to the surface polariton generation.     

Optically implemented broadband blueshift switch in the terahertz regime

We experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, an optically implemented blueshift tunable metamaterial in the terahertz (THz) regime. The design implies two potential resonance states, and the photoconductive semiconductor (silicon) settled in the critical region plays the role of intermediary for switching the resonator from mode 1 to mode 2. The observed tuning range of the fabricated device is as high as 26% (from 0.76 THz to 0.96 THz) through optical control to silicon. The realization of broadband blueshift tunable metamaterial offers opportunities for achieving switchable metamaterials with simultaneous redshift and blueshift tunability and cascade tunable devices. Our experimental approach is compatible with semiconductor technologies and can be used for other applications in the THz regime.     

渔网电磁超介质左手通带的超常透射及其电场增强效应的数值研究

本文利用电磁场数值模拟方法研究了分布矩形孔阵列的"金属-电介质-金属"三明治渔网电磁超介质在其左手通带发生的超常透射现象和不同模式激发下的电场增强效应。结果证实左手通带紧邻的超常光学传输峰源于波导共振模式,利用超常传输效应可以有效降低电磁超介质的损耗,提高左手性能;波导共振模和左手通带对应的反对称磁模能够分别在孔洞和金属夹层区域激发超过11倍的增强电场,因此渔网电磁超介质结构在表面增强光谱和传感等方面也具有潜在应用价值。     

Membrane-based acoustic metamaterial with near-zero refractive index

We investigate a one-dimensional acoustic metamaterial with a refractive index of near zero(RINZ) using an array of very thin elastic membranes located along a narrow waveguide pipe. The characteristics of the effective density, refractive index, and phase velocity of the metamaterial indicate that, at the resonant frequency fm, the metamaterial has zero mass density and a phase transmission that is nearly uniform. We present a mechanism for dramatic acoustic energy squeezing and anomalous acoustic transmission by connecting the metamaterial to a normal waveguide with a larger cross-section. It is shown that at a specific frequency f_1, transmission enhancement and energy squeezing are achieved despite the strong geometrical mismatch between the metamaterial and the normal waveguide. Moreover, to confirm the energy transfer properties, the acoustic pressure distribution, acoustic wave reflection coefficient, and energy transmission coefficient are also calculated. These results prove that the RINZ metamaterial provides a new design method for acoustic energy squeezing,super coupling, wave front transformation, and acoustic wave filtering.