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Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities

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Published on: November 30, 2012

Optical guided waves at graded metal-dielectric interfaces.

Brett A Kruger¹, Joyce K S Poon

¹Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, 10 King’s College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G4, Canada. brett.kruger@utoronto.ca

|June 3, 2011

Summary

This study explores waveguides with graded permittivity at metal-dielectric interfaces. Linearly graded interfaces enhance field confinement, leading to increased propagation losses sensitive to gradation extent.

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Area of Science:

Physics
Materials Science
Electrical Engineering

Background:

Waveguides are crucial for transmitting electromagnetic energy.
Controlling wave propagation at interfaces is essential for device design.
Permittivity grading offers a novel approach to manipulate waveguide properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of linearly graded permittivity on waveguide behavior at metal-dielectric interfaces.
To derive analytical expressions for waveguide characteristics.
To understand how interface gradation affects dispersion, energy velocity, and losses.

Main Methods:

Derivation of analytic expressions for dispersion relations, modes, losses, and cutoff wavelengths.
Numerical simulations to validate analytical findings.
Analysis of field confinement and energy velocity in the graded region.

Main Results:

Analytic expressions derived and validated through simulations.
Observed anomalous dispersion and reduced energy velocity.
Demonstrated increased field confinement within the metal-dielectric transition region.
Identified increased propagation losses sensitive to the spatial extent of gradation.

Conclusions:

Linearly graded permittivity interfaces significantly alter waveguide properties.
Anomalous dispersion and enhanced field confinement lead to higher propagation losses.
The spatial extent of interface gradation is a critical parameter for controlling losses in such waveguides.