Subwavelength broadband splitters and switches for femtosecond plasmonic signals

Opt Express. 2010 May 24;18(11):11810-20. doi: 10.1364/OE.18.011810.

Abstract

Numerical simulations and an analytic approach based on transmission line theory are used to design splitters for nano-plasmonic signal processing that allow to arbitrarily adjust the ratio of transmission from an input into two different output arms. By adjusting the geometrical parameters of the structure, either a high bandwidth or a sharp transmission resonance is obtained. Switching between the two arms can be achieved by modulating the effective refractive index of the waveguide. Employing the instantaneous Kerr effect, switching rates in the THz regime are potentially feasible. The suggested devices are of interest for future applications in nanoplasmonic information processing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*