Coupled THz Waveguide Utilizing Surface Plasmon Polaritons on Thin Dielectric Slab Sandwiched between Two Corrugated Metallic Claddings

We present a comprehensive experimental study of terahertz （THz） wave propagation utilizing surface plasmon polaritons （SPPs） on the interfaces of a thin dielectric core layer sandwiched between two corrugated metallic claddings. THz wave impinges on the structured surfaces at normal incidence. Long-lasting oscillation propagation features are observed in the temporal waveform after traveling through the periodic arrays. The enhanced THz transmission can be achieved due to the coupling between incident waves to SPPs at the bottom and top interfaces. The finite element method is used to simulate the field distribution and the transmission mode in the waveguide. The hybrid waveguide with low absorption has great potential applications in THz integrated devices.     

Dependence on surface profile in grating-assisted coupling of light to surface plasmon-polaritons

Grating coupling of light to surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) supported by a thin metal film depends on the detailed geometry of the grating used to couple the incident light to the SPP modes. Here we show experimental and theoretical evidence that, in the case of square gratings having the same pitch and depth, the maximum coupling of light to the SPPs is achieved when the ratio between the groove width and the pitch of the grating is equal to 1/2. A straightforward explanation involving a Fourier analysis of the different grating profiles is given and compared with the experimental results.     

Cherenkov terahertz radiation from Dirac semimetals surface plasmon polaritons excited by an electron beam

We demonstrate a physical mechanism for terahertz(THz) generation from surface plasmon polaritons(SPPs). In a structure with a bulk Dirac semimetals(BDSs) film deposited on a dielectric substrate, the energy of the asymmetric SPP mode can be significantly enhanced to cross the light line of the substrate due to the SPP-coupling between the interfaces of the film. Therefore, the SPPs can be immediately transformed into Cherenkov radiation without removing the wavevector mismatch. Additionally, the symmetric SPP mode can also be dramatically lifted to cross the substrate light line when a buffer layer with low permittivity relative to the substrate is introduced. In this case, dual-frequency THz radiation from the two SPP modes can be generated simultaneously. The radiation intensity is significantly enhanced by over two orders due to the field enhancement of the SPPs. The radiation frequency can be tuned in the THz frequency regime by adjusting the beam energy and the chemical potential of the BDSs. Our results could find potential applications in developing room temperature, tunable, coherent, and intense THz radiation sources to cover the entire THz band.     

Chiral surface plasmon polaritons on metallic nanowires

Chiral surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) can be generated by linearly polarized light incident at the end of a nanowire, exciting a coherent superposition of three specific nanowire waveguide modes. Images of chiral SPPs on individual nanowires obtained from quantum dot fluorescence excited by the SPP evanescent field reveal the chirality predicted in our theoretical model. The handedness and spatial extent of the helical periods of the chiral SPPs depend on the input polarization angle and nanowire diameter as well as the dielectric environment. Chirality is preserved in the free-space output wave, making a metallic nanowire a broad bandwidth subwavelength source of circular polarized photons.     

Extraordinary optical transmission through metal gratings with single and double grooved surfaces

We investigate the transmission properties of a normally incident TM plane wave through metal films with periodic parabolic-shaped grooves on single and double surfaces using the finite-difference-time-domain method. Nearly zero transmission efficiency is found at wavelengths corresponding to surface plasmon excitation on a flat surface in the case where the single surface is grooved. Meanwhile, resonant excitation of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) Bloch modes leads to a strong transmission peak at slightly larger wavelengths. When the grating is grooved on double surfaces, the transmission enhancement can be dramatically improved due to the resonant tunnelling between SPP Bloch modes.     

Enhanced and tunable circular dichroism in the visible waveband by coupling of the waveguide mode and local surface plasmon resonances in double-layer asymmetric metal grating

Circular dichroism (CD) has shown very interesting possibilities as a means to characterize the chiral signal of a chiral structure. Here, we theoretically demonstrated enhanced and tunable CD in the visible light regime using a composite structure consisting of a double-layer metal grating gaped by a dielectric waveguide layer. Based on the coupling of the waveguide modes and the localized plasmonic resonances, the CD could reach a maximum value as high as 0.52 at 635 nm, which is four times higher than the CD value obtained in a conventional double-layer grating without the waveguide coupling effect. Furthermore, the spectral positions of the enhanced CD bands could be easily tuned by controlling the structural parameters. The proposed hybrid double-grating and waveguide structures could have potential applications in chiral selective imaging, sensing and spectroscopy, especially where the transmission measurement is required.     

金属光栅对表面等离子体波的辐射抑制研究

对金属光栅进行严格耦合波理论计算, 得到了780和1500 nm波长入射光条件下不同光栅调制深度(20-80 nm)对应的反射谱. 根据Fano理论推导了描述反射谱线的经验公式, 最后应用有限元法计算光栅表面近场电场分布, 验证了公式的正确性. 反射谱线公式反映出光栅耦合表面等离子体的各个物理效应, 其中最重要的是反映出光栅在某一调制深度下对表面等离子体反耦合的抑制作用, 这一发现为设计光栅能量约束器件提供了物理依据.     

Investigation of transmission resonances on the one-dimensional metallic cylindrical gratings in THz frequency range

In the experiments of THz wave transmitting through the metallic cylindrical gratings fabricated by sub-wavelength brass wires, this paper reports that the discrepancy in the sharp resonances occurred as the grating perpendicular or parallel to the electric vector are observed. A simulation based on the finite difference time domain (FDTD) indicated that the enhanced transmission through the grating is attributed to the combined effects of surface plasmons and cavity modes in the perpendicular condition, while the cavity modes dominate the resonant transmission under the other conditions. Additional experimental data and calculated results show that ～1 enhanced coupling efficiency can be realized in some THz frequency, which could be applied to the design and improvement of various optoelectronic devices, or detection of biological molecule and powder samples, etc.     

Coupling effect of surface plasmon polaritons in single-negative lamellar heterostructure

Propagation characteristics of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in the lamellar heterostructure, which is actually a SPP waveguide array, constructed by two kinds of single negative (SNG) material layers stacked alternatively are investigated. Based on the finite element method (FEM), the negative-refraction (NR) property is demonstrated when the electromagnetic wave penetrates through free space into such SNG lamellar structure. A clear view of the underlying physics of NR is presented qualitatively that is mainly related to the coupled SPPs. The strong coupling effect leads to the novel SPP dispersion curves and then the anomalous propagation characteristics.     

一维金属光栅的光学反射吸收

利用RCWA(rigid coupled-wave analysis)方法研究了一维金属光栅的反射特性,考察了 瑞利反常、表面等离激元驻波共振和几何共振三种共振吸收机理,分析了这三种机理的相互作用,如表面等离激元驻波共振和几何共振可以形成混合模式. 在反射式复合金属光栅中,确认了第四种共振形式,即相位共振. 数值计算表明相位共振对光学吸收的影响有两种形式: 当光栅周期大于一个波长时,相位共振导致尖锐的吸收峰,峰位在几何共振吸收峰一侧;当光栅周期小于一个波长时,相位共振导致混合模式的共振吸收峰发生劈裂. 对一维金属光栅反射特性的研究增加了对金属光栅共振吸收模式及其相互作用的认识. 关键词： 一维金属光栅 瑞利反常 表面等离激元 相位共振     

Surface plasmon-polaritons wave fields in the vicinity of a metallic nanohole

It is shown that metal surface with a nanohole can support surface plasmon-polaritons (SPP), whose wave fields are described by Hankel functions. These plasmons can be excited by an electromagnetic wave incident at the metal surface. The optical transmission through subwavelength holes in metal films can essentially be enhanced by interaction of the incident light with surface plasmons. Dependence of excitation of the wave field of SPP on the incidence angle and on the wavelength of incident light is considered.     

基于格林函数法研究金属线栅在太赫兹波段的散射特性

本文运用格林函数法分析金属线栅在太赫兹(THz)波段的散射特性, 研究金属线栅的衍射效应对其传输特性的影响. 研究结果表明, 在零级衍射区入射电磁波的透过振幅随a/λ的增大单调增加, 在零级衍射极限处透过振幅达到最大值. 过渡区的临界频率处, 由于衍射效应的加强, 出现入射电磁波透过曲线的振荡. 衍射区受到衍射效应的影响入射电磁波透射振幅曲线总体下降, 并随a/λ的增大单调减少. 与微波传输线方法相比, 该方法摆脱了入射电磁波的波长需大于线栅常数且要求线栅的厚度远远小于金属线的宽度的限制, 能准确的分析系统的电磁场的分布特性, 更具普适性. 关键词： 金属线栅 太赫兹波 散射 格林函数法     

Low-loss subwavelength metal C-aperture waveguide

We present a design of a linear optical waveguide that utilizes a C-shaped metallic nano-aperture that efficiently transports light while maintaining a spot size of lambda/10. The performance of a C-aperture waveguide is superior to both a regular ridge waveguide and other surface plasmon based metal nano-optical waveguides. The energy transport mechanisms are explained by the coupling of an aperture surface resonance and the thickness resonances inside the guide channel. Finite-difference time-domain simulations of gold C-aperture waveguides are performed for a 1.5 microm wavelength incident plane wave. The 1/e decay length in power transmission is predicted to be approximately 2.5 microm. The total power throughput is 1.66 for the 2.55 microm long guide, with an intensity 6 times that of the incident wave at a distance 120 nm from the exit plane, having a spot size of 150 nm.     

全介质光栅在太赫兹波段的光调控特性

采用激光直写技术在100 μm厚的Si衬底上制备了全介质光栅结构, 利用近红外光抽运-太赫兹探测(near infrared pump-Terahertz probe)技术对该全介质光栅在THz波段的光谱响应及其光调控特性进行了测试, 最后结合电磁仿真结果, 对米谐振(Mie resonance)的形成机理和光调控机理进行了解释并对调控光作用下全介质光栅的电导率数值进行了估算. 研究结果表明: 在光栅与THz偏振垂直的情况下, 该全介质光栅在0-1.0 THz范围内有3个典型的米谐振峰且谐振模式各不相同; 随着调控光功率的增加, 3个谐振峰的谐振强度出现了不同程度的减弱, 其中第一个谐振峰的光调控幅度达到50%以上, 调控光作用下米谐振强度的减弱是由于光生载流子对入射THz波的吸收和散射导致了介质光栅内部感生电磁场减弱引起的. 上述工作对全介质超材料在THz波段的共振特性研究和相关光调控器件的研制具有重要参考价值.     

Propagation of surface plasmon polaritons in anisotropic MIM and IMI structures

Electromagnetic wave propagation through waveguide structures consisting of anisotropic dielectric layers, assisted by surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) is theoretically studied. Dispersion relations corresponding to both short range and long range coupled SPP modes in metal/insulator/metal (MIM) and insulator/metal/insulator (IMI) structures, taking into consideration the anisotropy of the insulator, are derived and numerically solved. The dispersion has a prominent dependence on the anisotropy of the dielectric environment. The dependence of propagation on the misalignments of the optic axes of the insulator has also been investigated.     

THzQWP二维光栅耦合效率的理论分析研究

将二维金属光栅结构引入到探测器结构中,以提高太赫兹(THz)量子阱光电探测器的探测率。采用三维时域有限差分算法,建立了THz量子阱光电探测器的二维金属光栅仿真模型,详细分析了二维金属光栅参数对太赫兹量子阱光电探测器的电场强度的影响。仿真分析结果表明:当入射光频率为6.27 THz(相对应波长为47.847 m)、光栅周期P=10.5 m、占空比=0.55（金属块宽度w= 5.755 m）、光栅层厚度h=0.4 m时,器件中的Z方向上的电场值最大,光栅的耦合效率最高。     

等离激元增强的石墨烯光吸收

石墨烯中等离激元具有特殊的光电性质,其和入射光的强烈耦合可以引起光吸收的增强.本文基于时域有限差分法和多体自洽场理论研究了等离激元对处于光学谐振腔中的石墨烯光吸收的影响.由于石墨烯中等离激元与入射光动量和能量不匹配而不能直接相互作用,因此石墨烯上施加了金属光栅结构.研究发现光栅结构能够对入射光进行动量补偿并且能够引起其下石墨烯中的电场强度产生很大程度增强,从而导致在该石墨烯结构中太赫兹等离激元和入射光发生强烈耦合而产生太赫兹等离极化激元,同时引起石墨烯光吸收的增强.希望本文能够加深对石墨烯光电特性的理解以及可以为基于石墨烯的太赫兹光电装置提供一定的理论依据.     

Polarization‐free directional coupling of surface plasmon polaritons

Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) have sparked enormous interest on nanophotonics beyond the diffraction limit for their remarkable capabilities of subwavelength confinements and strong enhancements. Due to the inherent polarization sensitivity of the SPPs [transverse‐magnetic (TM) polarization], it is a great challenge to couple the s‐polarized free‐space light to the SPPs. Here, an ultrasmall defect aperture (<λ²/2) is designed to directionally couple both the p‐ and s‐polarized incident beams to the single SPP mode in a broad bandwidth, which is guided by a subwavelength plasmonic waveguide. Simulations show that hot spots emerge at the sharp corners of the defect aperture when the incident beams illuminate it from the back side. The strong radiative fields from the hot spots are directionally coupled to the SPP mode because of the symmetry breaking of the defect aperture. By adjusting the structural parameters, both the unidirectional and bidirectional SPP coupling from the two orthogonal linear‐polarization incident beams are experimentally demonstrated. The polarization‐free coupling of the SPPs is of importance in circuits for fully optical processing of information with a deep‐subwavelength footprint.

     

Hybrid waveguide-surface plasmon polariton modes in a guided-mode resonance grating

We analyze the coupling between surface plasmon polaritons in a metal grating and the guided modes of a dielectric waveguide. Our model structure is a gold wire grating on a slab waveguide made of silicon nitride on silica wafer. The excitation of guided-mode resonances, surface plasmon polariton modes and hybrid waveguide-plasmon modes are observed in numerical simulations. Our experiments verify the existence of the predicted modes. These hybrid modes add significant degrees of freedom in designing structures for plasmonic applications.     

Transmission properties and band structure of a segmented dielectric waveguide for the terahertz range

In this paper we investigate the band structure of guided modes in a segmented planar waveguide for the terahertz range. The dispersion curves are obtained using two different methods. The first approach is based on a close relationship between the band structure and narrow resonances in transmission spectra: transmission spectra are therefore calculated using a transfer matrix method and compared to the experimental ones. The second technique involves a modal analysis approach of diffraction gratings and it is used for direct calculation of the band structure. Propagation of THz guided waves along the grating considered as a segmented dielectric waveguide is also investigated using a bi-directional mode expansion and propagation method. All approaches are compared to each other and discussed.