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Design, Fabrication, and Experimental Characterization of Plasmonic Photoconductive Terahertz Emitters
Published on: July 8, 2013
Deep subwavelength terahertz waveguides using gap magnetic plasmon.
Atsushi Ishikawa1, Shuang Zhang, Dentcho A Genov
1NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-1740, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|March 5, 2009
Summary
We developed a new terahertz (THz) waveguide using magnetic plasmon polaritons in metamaterials. This allows for deep subwavelength THz wave transport in compact integrated devices.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Metamaterials
- Terahertz (THz) technology
Background:
- Terahertz (THz) wave applications are limited by the diffraction limit.
- Subwavelength waveguiding is crucial for miniaturizing THz devices.
- Metamaterials offer unique electromagnetic properties for wave manipulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate a novel subwavelength THz waveguide.
- To achieve deep subwavelength confinement of THz waves.
- To enable THz wave transport in integrated photonic circuits.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing magnetic plasmon polariton (MPP) modes.
- Designing a waveguide with a narrow gap in a negative permeability metamaterial.
- Simulating and analyzing waveguiding in straight, bent, and splitters.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated deep subwavelength waveguiding (confinement < lambda/10).
- Achieved low group velocities down to c/21.8.
- Showcased waveguiding in various configurations including bends and splitters.
Conclusions:
- The proposed waveguide enables deep subwavelength THz wave transport.
- The system has no cutoff for core dimensions, offering design flexibility.
- This technology is promising for integrated THz device applications.
