Analytical study of optimal design and gain parameters of double-slot plasmonic waveguides

作者:Handapangoda Dayan*; Rukhlenko Ivan D; Premaratne Malin
来源:Journal of Optics, 2013, 15(3): 035006.
DOI:10.1088/2040-8978/15/3/035006

摘要

We theoretically analyze guided modes in optically active and passive double-slot plasmonic waveguides. We show that for one of the two different mode symmetries supported by the waveguide, a most productive guiding condition can be realized by adjusting the thicknesses of the layers to optimal values. We also derive approximate analytic expressions to calculate the optimal geometrical parameters of the waveguide. Interestingly, our analysis shows that the propagation losses associated with the inverse mode symmetry of the double-slot waveguide are comparatively low, regardless of the dimensions of the waveguide. We further show that the propagation losses become the smallest in the limiting case of a single-slot (metal-dielectric-metal (MDM)) waveguide. For both double- and single-slot waveguides, we show that the gain required to overcome the losses can be reduced by choosing a dielectric with a low refractive index. We also derive accurate analytical expressions to readily estimate the critical gain and modal gain of the waveguides.

  • 出版日期2013-3