Numerical analysis of long-range surface plasmon polariton modes in nanoscale plasmonic waveguides

Guiding properties of nanoscale metallic wire waveguides embedded in a semiconductor are discussed. By performing eigenmode numerical simulations of the waveguide and continually varying the geometrical cross-section parameters, we have obtained comprehensive mode characteristics, such as the effective refractive index, effective mode area, and propagation length, that provide full guided mode description. This allows us to gain insight into possible waveguide applications using the figures of merit. Amplification and polarization manipulation of a plasmonic signal in such a waveguide have also been considered.