Three-dimensional subwavelength components utilizing THz surface plasmons

Since surface plasmons(SPs)are not constrained by the diraction limit,they have important potential applications in the optical,terahertz(THz),and microwave components.In this paper,we firstly present a review of three-dimensional(3D) bidirectional and multi-directional THz SP splitters based on the rectangular metallic groove gratings with finite thickness,in which a metallic wire was used to excite the THz SPs.The experimental verifications of such splitters have been implemented in the microwave frequencies,and the measurement results have excellent agreements to the full-wave simulations.To improve the performance,a 3D bidirectional THz SP splitter with the transverse confinement and a 3D bidirectional bending THz SP splitter are then proposed,which have shown very good splitting performance,compact sizes,and better transverse confinement of EM fields.Finally,a broadband slow-wave system of subwavelength thickness is reviewed and a new bending slow-wave system utilizing THz SPs is proposed.Experiments and simulations in microwave frequencies have good agreements,showing the validity of these components.