Propagation properties and dispersion characteristics of the tapered gap plasmonic waveguides

Abstract

In this study, we numerically analyse the propagation properties and dispersion characteristics of the tapered gap plasmonic waveguides (TGPWs). Using the finite element method, the waveguide parameters such as modal field distribution and complex propagation constant are calculated for different geometrical parameters over a wide spectral range. Moreover, using a kind of active medium with appropriate gain, the required gains for lossless propagation are obtained. Results show that the propagation properties and dispersion characteristics of the waveguide along with the value of required gain for achieving lossless propagation can be well controlled by adjusting the geometrical parameters of the waveguide. The simulation results indicate that the calculated gain values are obtainable using the existing semiconductor technology such as InGaAsP–InGaAlAs multi-quantum well and InAs/GaAs quantum dot active medium at the wavelength of 1550 nm. The strong mode confinement of the TGPWs can be used for achieving strong nonlinear effects. Furthermore, due to optical energy confinement in nanoscale, optical nanofocusing devices based on TGPWs are attainable. TGPWs can be utilized in the field of nanotechnology to fulfil the photonic devices integration.