Polarization‐Enabled Steering of Surface Plasmons Using Crossed Reciprocal Nanoantennas
Dhruv Tyagi, Tzu‐Yu Chen, Chen‐Bin Huang
Abstract
Abstract Directional control over optical near‐fields using plasmonic structure is highly desirable for the realization of photonic nanocircuitry. A simple plasmonic nanostructure is designed to allow polarization‐sensitive directional launching and steering of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). In the past, polarization‐controlled SPP steering has been limited to wavelength demultiplexing that severely limits the realization of multiple output SPP‐based circuits excited by a monochromatic source. Based on crossed Babinet‐inverted nanoantennas, steering of SPPs in the first quadrant with very high sensitivity to the linear polarization of the exciting source is numerically and experimentally demonstrated. The same device also functions as a power‐splitter under a particular optical polarization. The results of this study can open up a new avenue towards full coherent control of SPPs and should accelerate the pace for the realization of highly functioning next‐generation optical nanocircuits.