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.     

Metallic nanowires for subwavelength waveguiding and nanophotonic devices

Plasmonics is a rapidly developing field concerning light manipulation at the nanoscale with many potential applications, of which plasmonic circuits are promising for future information technology. Plasmonic waveguides are fundamental elements for constructing plasmonic integrated circuits. Among the proposed different plasmonic waveguides, metallic nanowires have drawn much attention due to the highly confined electromagnetic waves and relatively low propagation loss. Here we review the recent research progress in the waveguiding characteristics of metallic nanowires and nanowire-based nanophotonic devices. Plasmon modes of both cylindrical and pentagonal metallic nanowires with and without substrate are discussed. Typical methods for exciting and detecting the plasmons in metallic nanowires are briefly summarized. Because of the multimode characteristic, the plasmon propagation and emission in the nanowire have many unique properties, benefiting the design of plasmonic devices. A few nanowire-based devices are highlighted, including quarter-wave plate, Fabry-Prot resonator, router and logic gates.     

Low-loss terahertz waveguide with InAs-graphene-SiC structure

We demonstrate a low-loss terahertz waveguide based on the InAs-graphene-SiC structure. By analyzing the terahertz waveguide proposed in this paper, we can obtain that it is the characteristic of a low transmission loss coefficient(αloss≈0.55 dB/m) for fundamental mode(LP01) when the incident frequency is larger than 3.0 THz. The critical radii of the inside and outside cylinders have been found for the high-quality transmission. The large inside radius and the high transmission frequency result in a flat transmission loss coefficient curve. As a strictly two-dimensional material, the double graphene surface rings perform better to improve the quality of transmission mode. These results provide a new idea for the research of the long-distance THz waveguide.     

Extraordinary terahertz transmission through subwavelength spindle-like apertures in NbN filmExtraordinary terahertz transmission through subwavelength spindle-like apertures in NbN filmExtraordinary terahertz transmission through subwavelength spindle-like apertures in NbN filmExtraordinary terahertz transmission through subwavelength spindle-like apertures in NbN film

We studied numerically the temperature dependent extraordinary terahertz transmission through niobium nitride （NbN） film perforated with subwavelength spindle-like apertures. Both the resonant frequency and intensity of extraor- dinary terahertz transmission peaks can be greatly modified by the transition of NbN film from the normal state to the superconducting state. An enhancement of the （~1,0） NbN/magnesium oxide （MgO） peak intensity as high as 200% is demonstrated due to the combined contribution of both the superconducting transition and the excitation of localized surface plasmons （LSPs） around the apertures. The extraordinary terahertz transmission through spindle-fike hole arrays patterned on the NbN film can pave the way for us to explore novel active tuning devices.     

基于锑化铟亚波长阵列结构的太赫兹聚焦器件

基于锑化铟材料在太赫兹波段的横向磁光效应,提出了一种金属-空气-锑化铟-金属非对称周期性亚波长线栅阵列结构的表面等离子体器件,研究了外加磁场和温度对不同频率透射波聚焦特性的影响.结果表明,在外加磁场强度B=0.6 T、温度T=172 K时,可实现0.8 THz透射光束的聚焦,焦点处能流密度透过率比没有外加磁场时增强28倍.对于不同频率入射波,通过主动调节磁场强度和温度,能实现从0.4—0.8 THz宽频带的聚焦,而且焦点处的透过率相比于无外加磁场时的普通狭缝聚焦透过率增强20倍以上,该器件是太赫兹波段理想的可调谐、宽频段、高透过率的聚焦器件.     

太赫兹亚波长人工结构传感应用

近年来,太赫兹科学技术在快速发展,它在毒品、爆炸物、有毒危险品等安全检查及反恐怖方面展现出独特的应用前景。常用的自由空间太赫兹时域光谱技术,尽管具有很多优越性和良好的应用前景,但影响其性能提高和进一步推广应用的一些实际问题仍然存在,如对光斑尺寸和样品体积、质量要求等。近年来,随着亚波长人工结构(包括超材料和表面等离子激元器件)的出现,为该问题的解决提供了新的契机。文章综述了作者在太赫兹亚波长人工结构器件传感应用所开展的一系列研究工作,其中包括薄膜材料传感、不同标号汽油传感以及同位素传感等,显著地提高了被测物质的探测灵敏度,同时降低了对被测物质的体积、质量要求,实现了高灵敏、微量物质传感,为太赫兹安全检查及反恐怖应用提供了技术借鉴。此外,文章还介绍了太赫兹亚波长人工结构传感器件未来的发展前景和面临的挑战。     

Low-loss all-solid photonic bandgap fiber

We report the fabrication and characterization of a new type all-solid photonic bandgap fiber. By introducing an index depressed layer around the high-index rod in the unit cell of photonic crystal cladding, transmission loss as low as 2 dB/km within the first bandgap is realized for the all-solid photonic bandgap fiber with a bandwidth of over 700 nm. The bend loss experiment shows that the photonic bandgap fiber is much less bend sensitive than single-mode fiber.     

Low-loss, compact waveguiding with TE mode in metal/dielectric waveguides for planar lightwave circuit

We propose a low-loss metal/dielectric waveguide for compact planar lightwave circuit. The basic waveguide structure is a metal-defined high-index-contrast strip waveguide based on silicon/silica. As the guide is designed for TE single mode waveguiding, extremely low propagation loss (e.g. <0.04 dB/cm), very low bend loss (e.g. 0.0043 dB/90°-turn) and small waveguide pitch of zero-crosstalk are theoretically achievable, and can be further improved by compromising with component size and density. Examples of multi-bends and device integration are demonstrated with numerical simulations. The proposal is compatible with silicon technology and appealing for development of silicon-based planar lightwave circuit.     

Electrically tunable resonant terahertz transmission in subwavelength hole arrays

An actively enhanced resonant transmission in a plasmonic array of subwavelength holes is demonstrated by use of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. By connecting this two-dimensional element into an electrical circuit, tunable resonance enhancement is observed in arrays made from good and relatively poor metals. The tunable feature is attributed to the nonlinear electric response of the periodic hole array film, which is confirmed by its voltage–current behavior. This finding could lead to a unique route to active plasmonic devices, such as tunable filters, spatial modulators, and integrated terahertz optoelectronic components.     

Investigation on spectral loss characteristics of subwavelength terahertz fibers

By measuring the spectral loss characteristics of subwavelength-diameter terahertz fibers, our study supports the recent theory proposed by M. Sumetsky [Opt. Lett. 31, 870 (2006)] that diameter-variation-induced radiation is a dominant loss mechanism for subwavelength fibers in the low- (<1%) core-fraction-power regime. This physical mechanism limits the lowest guidable frequency in a subwavelength fiber.     

Zoned microstructure fiber for low-dispersion waveguiding and coupling to photonic crystals

We describe a zoned microstructure fiber that exhibits low dispersion and virtually zero spherical aberration because of its optimized piecewise Gaussian index profile. We present results of a nine-zone design that has an average refractive index of 2.3, a refractive-index contrast of 0.1, a first zone radius of 1.67 microm, and a maximum core radius of 5 microm. It has an in-fiber focal length of 8.88 microm and can focus light to a spot size of radius 315 nm, facilitating efficient coupling between single-mode fiber and photonic crystals.     

Extraordinary terahertz transmission through subwavelength spindle-like apertures in NbN film

We studied numerically the temperature dependent extraordinary terahertz transmission through niobium nitride(NbN) film perforated with subwavelength spindle-like apertures. Both the resonant frequency and intensity of extraordinary terahertz transmission peaks can be greatly modified by the transition of NbN film from the normal state to the superconducting state. An enhancement of the(±1, 0) NbN/magnesium oxide(MgO) peak intensity as high as 200% is demonstrated due to the combined contribution of both the superconducting transition and the excitation of localized surface plasmons(LSPs) around the apertures. The extraordinary terahertz transmission through spindle-like hole arrays patterned on the NbN film can pave the way for us to explore novel active tuning devices.     

Transmission properties of terahertz pulses through subwavelength double split-ring resonators

We present a terahertz time-domain spectroscopy study of the transmission properties of planar composite media made from subwavelength double split-ring resonators (SRRs). The measured amplitude transmission spectra reveal a resonance near 0.5 THz, the central frequency of most ultrafast terahertz systems, for one SRR orientation in normal-incidence geometry. This resonance is attributed to the effect of electric excitation of magnetic resonance of the SRR arrays. In addition, the influences of background substrate, lattice constant, and the shapes of the SRRs on the terahertz resonance are experimentally investigated and agree well with the results of recent numerical studies.     

Particle sorting using a subwavelength optical fiber

Size‐based particle sorting using a subwavelength optical fiber was demonstrated with 600‐nm and 1‐μm sizes of polystyrene particles. Optical forces acting on the particles were calculated based on three‐dimensional finite‐difference time‐domain simulations at wavelengths of 808, 1047, and 1310 nm propagating in a subwavelength optical fiber with diameter of 800 nm. Calculations indicate that by launching two counterpropagating laser beams at different wavelengths into the fiber, the directions of the resultant optical scattering forces acting on the two particle sizes can be opposite along the fiber, which leads to a countertransport of the particles. To verify the theoretical prediction, experiments were performed using the 800‐nm fiber to sort the two particle sizes. The results show that with two counterpropagating beams at 808 and 1310 nm, a continuous particle sorting was achieved. Measured particle velocities were in agreement with the theoretical calculations.     

Resonant terahertz transmission in subwavelength metallic hole arrays of sub-skin-depth thickness

We study surface-plasmon-enhanced terahertz transmission through subwavelength metallic hole arrays of sub-skin-depth thickness. Dynamic evolution of surface-plasmon resonance in terms of array thickness is characterized by use of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in the frequency range 0.1-4.5 THz. A critical thickness of lead array film is observed, above which surface-plasmon coupling of terahertz pulses begins and is enhanced rapidly as the array thickness is increased toward the skin depth. The experimental results indicate that high-efficiency extraordinary terahertz transmission can be achieved at an array thickness of only one third of skin depth.     

Time-resolved imaging of mode-conversion process of terahertz transients in subwavelength waveguides

We studied the mode-conversion process of terahertz pulses from a planar subwavelength waveguide to a tilted rectangular subwavelength waveguide. An unusual wavefront rotation, which led to an extra conversion time, was observed using a time-resolved imaging technique. We simulated the mode conversion process by a finite-difference time-domain method, and the results agreed well with the experiments. According to the simulations, the conversion time was demonstrated to become longer as the tilt angle or width of the rectangular waveguide increased. This work provides the possibility to optimize the future high-speed communications and terahertz integrated platforms.     

太赫兹波段下金属狭缝的透射增强特性研究

用太赫兹时域光谱技术研究了具有不同宽度的金属狭缝透射光谱特征. 实验结果显示在实验测量有效光谱范围(02 THz—26 THz)内,当狭缝宽度小到一定程度,在频谱中出现了共振增强,具有明显的带通带阻现象,并在理论上分析了这种共振透射现象的原因. 关键词： 表面等离子体 太赫兹脉冲 时域光谱技术 金属狭缝     

亚波长分形结构太赫兹透射增强的机理研究

利用太赫兹时域光谱(terahertz time domain spectroscopy,简称THz-TDS),研究了亚波长金属分形结构在THz波段的透射增强特性.分别从实验和理论两个方面,研究了铜箔上各级分形结构THz透射增强现象的产生机理.结果表明,在低频区的透射增强主要是由低级分形线中电子运动的共振引起的,而高频区的透射增强则主要由高级分形线中电子运动的共振引起的.从而将这种透射增强效应归结为分形结构中电子的共振辐射,即分形结构的局域共振效应. 关键词： 分形 太赫兹 透射 共振峰     

Simulation investigation on waveguide properties of terahertz wave through subwavelength semiconductor gap

The waveguide propagation properties of terahertz wave through subwavelength semiconductor trench have been simulationally investigated. The effects of gap width, temperature, doping concentration and dielectric filling materials on waveguide property have been given and discussed. The results show that as temperature and doping concentration increases, the skin depth and the propagation constant decreases. In addition, the effective index increases and the propagation length decreases as the dielectric constant of filling materials increases.