Phase‐controlled directional switching of surface plasmon polaritons via beam interference

Abstract

A novel method for switching the direction of surface plasmon polarition (SPP) launching is proposed. The principle behind the switching mechanism is based on the relative phase difference between the reference beam and the control beam. Selective guidance of the direction of SPP can be explained by the composition of the charge parity that is induced near the slit edge, which is caused by interference created by two incident beams. The switching of SPP launching direction could be implemented by simple phase modulation of the control beam when the slit parameters satisfy the specific conditions at the designed specific wavelength. An experimental demonstration, in good agreement with numerical results, shows that our configuration of SPP switching can be operated by a quite simple interaction.

Tunable Unidirectional Coupling of Surface Plasmon Polaritons Utilizing a V-Shaped Slot Nanoantenna Column

“…These include using one or several oblique incident beams onto slits [13][14][15], polarizationsensitive apertures [16][17][18], L-shaped optical slot nanoantennas [19], phase discontinue metasurface [20], and mimicking rotating dipoles utilizing optical antennas [21][22][23]. The typical method among them is arraying two columns of nanoantennas with a distance of one fourth of the wavelength, and adjusting the relative phase differences between the SPP coupled by the two columns [16][17][18].…”

Dynamic control of optical transmission through a nano-slit using surface plasmons

“…The field of plasmonics explores the coupling of optical fields with SPPs in nanostructures [2]. In recent years, extensive research efforts have produced novel plasmonic devices such as waveguides [3], couplers [4], lasers [5], solar cells [6], switches [7,8], holograms [9], and sensors [10]. Many of these devices use subwavelength apertures, like tiny holes or slits, in SPP-supporting metal films.…”

Switchable surface plasmon dichroic splitter modulated by optical polarization

“…In addition, strong field confinement accompanied by metallic cavity structures has been used for enhancing the efficiency of photon detection from nanohole , nanoslit , and nanowire configurations. Like these, understanding the physics of light‐matter interactions laid on the subwavelength‐scale structure gives us an opportunity for realizing miniaturized optical devices .…”