Abstract
Propagating two-dimensional plasmon modes can be guided along nanoscale flat-top metal ridges. Mode field distributions, dispersion curves, travel ranges, and figures-of-merit of various flat-top silver nanoridge plasmon waveguide modes have been calculated and are presented in this paper. It has been found that flat-top metal nanoridge plasmon modes are quasi-transverse electromagnetic (TEM) modes with longitudinal electromagnetic field components 3 orders of magnitude smaller than the transverse field components. The quasi-TEM nature of the plasmon modes reveals that the propagation of the free electron oscillation on the top of the nanoridge contributes mainly to the tightly confined ridge mode. It is also found that as the width of the nanoridge decreases, the ridge plasmon mode becomes more tightly confined on the ridge top. As the nanoridge width increases, the plasmon mode approaches two decoupled right-angle wedge plasmon modes.
©2012 Optical Society of America
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