Exploiting metamaterials, plasmonics and nanoantennas concepts in silicon photonics

Abstract

The interaction of light with subwavelength metallic nano-structures is at the heart of different current scientific hot topics, namely plasmonics, metamaterials and nanoantennas. Research in these disciplines during the last decade has given rise to new, powerful concepts providing an unprecedented degree of control over light manipulation at the nanoscale. However, only recently have these concepts been used to increase the capabilities of light processing in current photonic integrated circuits (PICs), which traditionally rely only on dielectric materials with element sizes larger than the light wavelength. Amongst the different PIC platforms, silicon photonics is expected to become mainstream, since manufacturing using well-established CMOS processes enables the mass production of low-cost PICs. In this review we discuss the benefits of introducing recent concepts arisen from the fields of metamaterials, plasmonics and nanoantennas into a silicon photonics integrated platform. We review existing works in this direction and discuss how this hybrid approach can lead to the improvement of current PICs enabling novel and disruptive applications in photonics.

Key Roles of Plasmonics in Wireless THz Nanocommunications—A Survey

“…Moreover, plasmonic waveguides display high propagation losses and, therefore, they are not suitable for implementing long range on chip interconnections. An appropriate solution would be based on the adoption of the hybrid combination of plasmonic resonators as nanoantennas, while keeping dielectric waveguides as the feeding elements [6]. Hence, the employment of plasmonic nanoantennas adjusted to dielectric waveguides for building nano-optical wireless links instead of conventional plasmonic waveguide links, with short range propagation limitations would be a promising solution.…”

“…Graphene based WiNoCs (GWiNoCs) is probably the most updated promising approach for THz nanoscale wireless communications, and it is therefore considered to be the basis for implementing future on chip network architectures. Alternatively, hybrid optical wireless schemes, may be also proved to be a promising NoC solution [6], by combining the best assets of these two worlds: low loss dielectric waveguide media, and miniature sized plasmonic material oscillating at THz rates.Last, wireless nanosensor networks (WNSNs) is another established THz nanoscale application, with basic similarities as in WiNoCs, such as core to core or to memory communication, but also with other unique characteristic types of communication, mainly between nanosensors and nanomachines in the THz band [7]. Such EM communication in the THz band, is usually enabled by plasmonic materials, as graphene for implementing plasmonic nanotransceivers and nanoantennas, as in the WiNoC case.…”

“…Graphene based WiNoCs (GWiNoCs) is probably the most updated promising approach for THz nanoscale wireless communications, and it is therefore considered to be the basis for implementing future on chip network architectures. Alternatively, hybrid optical wireless schemes, may be also proved to be a promising NoC solution [6], by combining the best assets of these two worlds: low loss dielectric waveguide media, and miniature sized plasmonic material oscillating at THz rates.…”

Coherent Control of a Plasmonic Nanoantenna Integrated on a Silicon Chip

“…Additionally, extra beams can be easily added by placing more waveguides, whose direction can be accurately defined by lithography while their amplitude and phase of the guided light can be controlled either by using on-chip modulators or external mechanisms. Remarkably, this hybrid plasmonic-photonic approach, 15 which closely resembles the situation in the RF domain where metallic antennas serve as transducer between wireless and wired networks, would naturally enable the simultaneous coherent driving of multiple nanoantennas integrated on a same chip.…”

Design and implementation of nanoantennas on integrated guides and their application on polarization analysis and synthesis.

“…Remarkably, the use of optical waveguides to connect nanoantennas would enable dual wireless/wired optical networks, just mimicking what is widely done in the RF and microwave domains. Moreover, this hybrid plasmonic-photonic approach [120] would enable the simultaneous coherent driving of multiple nanoantennas integrated on a same chip.…”