Designing a nanometer-scale light bending structure

M. W. Maqsood; K. J. Chau

doi:10.1117/12.905469

8 September 2011 Designing a nanometer-scale light bending structure

M. W. Maqsood, K. J. Chau

Proceedings Volume 8007, Photonics North 2011; 80070X (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.905469
Event: Photonics North 2011, 2011, Ottawa, Canada

Abstract

The emergence of nanotechnology now enables the controlled fabrication of nanometer scale structures capable of steering and confining light waves over small distances. To realize complex nanoscale light guiding structures, it will be necessary to develop methods to guide light around tight bends and corners with high efficiency. Achieving high efficiency waveguide bends, however, is generally difficult because of radiation losses at the bend. To achieve tight waveguide bends several approaches have been put forward including the use of dielectric photonic crystals and resonators. One recent and promising method to limit the amount of loss over a bend is to restrict the path of light by encasing a bend in an opaque medium, such as metal. Such a bend can be conceptualized by joining the two metal-dielectric- metal (MDM) waveguides such that their dielectric cores are connected to each other at 90° as shown in Fig. 1. When the thickness of the dielectric cores is subwavelength, only the lowest order surface plasmon polariton (SPP) mode is sustained by the bend. Further, when the metal walls are constructed from a low-loss metal such as Ag, the SPP mode can propagate over the bend.

Citation Download Citation

M. W. Maqsood and K. J. Chau "Designing a nanometer-scale light bending structure", Proc. SPIE 8007, Photonics North 2011, 80070X (8 September 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.905469

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