We propose a new scheme on unidirectional surface plasmon-polariton (SPP) excitation with the following advantages: ultracompact size, working at arbitrary incidence angle and over a wide spectrum. The proposed structure utilizes a partially filled metallic slot with dielectric to realize unidirectional SPP excitation via direct field manipulation. We theoretically and numerically show that unidirectional SPP excitation with a ratio of 93% can be achieved by a structure with a 50 nm slot. The proposed structure keeps its functional capability over incident angles from −80° to 80°, and has a broadband working spectrum of more than 70 nm.

© 2013 OSA

1. W. L. Barnes, A. Dereux, and T. W. Ebbesen, “Surface plasmon subwavelength optics,” Nature424(6950), 824–830 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. S. A. Maier, Plasmonics: Fundamentals and applications (Springer, 2007), Chap. 2.
3. S. A. Maier, P. G. Kik, H. A. Atwater, S. Meltzer, E. Harel, B. E. Koel, and A. A. G. Requicha, “Local detection of electromagnetic energy transport below the diffraction limit in metal nanoparticle Plasmon waveguides,” Nat. Mater.2(4), 229–232 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. C. Yan, D. H. Zhang, and D. Li, “Wedge-shaped metal-dielectric composite metamaterials for light control,” Metamaterials (Amst.)4(4), 170–174 (2010). [CrossRef]
5. B. Steinberger, A. Hohenau, H. Ditlbacher, F. R. Aussenegg, A. Leitner, and J. R. Krenn, “Dielectric stripes on gold as surface plasmon waveguides: Bends and directional couplers,” Appl. Phys. Lett.91(8), 081111 (2007). [CrossRef]
6. J. S. Q. Liu, R. A. Pala, F. Afshinmanesh, W. Cai, and M. L. Brongersma, “A submicron plasmonic dichroic splitter,” Nat Commun2, 525 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. C. Yan, D. H. Zhang, Y. Zhang, D. Li, and M. A. Fiddy, “Metal-dielectric composites for beam splitting and far-field deep sub-wavelength resolution for visible wavelengths,” Opt. Express18(14), 14794–14801 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. B. Wang, L. Aigouy, E. Bourhis, J. Gierak, J. P. Hugonin, and P. Lalanne, “Efficient generation of surface plasmon by single-nanoslit illumination under highly oblique incidence,” Appl. Phys. Lett.94(1), 011114 (2009). [CrossRef]
9. Y. Wang, L. Wang, J. Liu, X. Zhai, L. Wang, D. Xiang, Q. Wan, and B. Meng, “Plasmonic surface-wave bidirectional splitter in different angles of incident light,” Opt. Commun.283(9), 1777–1779 (2010). [CrossRef]
10. J. Chen, Z. Li, S. Yue, and Q. Gong, “Efficient unidirectional generation of surface plasmon polaritons with asymmetric single-nanoslit,” Appl. Phys. Lett.97(4), 041113 (2010). [CrossRef]
11. N. Bonod, E. Popov, L. Li, and B. Chernov, “Unidirectional excitation of surface plasmons by slanted gratings,” Opt. Express15(18), 11427–11432 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
12. A. Roszkiewicz and W. Nasalski, “Unidirectional SPP excitation at asymmetrical two-layered metal gratings,” J. Phys. B43(18), 185401 (2010). [CrossRef]
13. A. Baron, E. Devaux, J. C. Rodier, J. P. Hugonin, E. Rousseau, C. Genet, T. W. Ebbesen, and P. Lalanne, “Compact antenna for efficient and unidirectional launching and decoupling of surface plasmons,” Nano Lett.11(10), 4207–4212 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14. F. López-Tejeira, S. G. Rodrigo, L. Martín-Moreno, F. J. García-Vidal, E. Devaux, T. W. Ebbesen, J. R. Krenn, I. P. Radko, S. I. Bozhevolnyi, M. U. González, J. C. Weeber, and A. Dereux, “Efficient unidirectional nanoslit couplers for surface plasmons,” Nat. Phys.3(5), 324–328 (2007). [CrossRef]
15. T. Xu, Y. Zhao, D. Gan, C. Wang, C. Du, and X. Luo, “Directional excitation of surface plasmons with subwavelength slits,” Appl. Phys. Lett.92(10), 101501 (2008). [CrossRef]
16. Y. Wang, L. Wang, J. Liu, X. Zhai, L. Wang, D. Xiang, Q. Wan, and B. Meng, “Plasmonic surface-wave bidirectional splitter in different angles of incident light,” Opt. Commun.283(9), 1777–1779 (2010). [CrossRef]
17. L. Wang, T. Li, L. Li, W. Xia, X. G. Xu, and S. N. Zhu, “Electrically generated unidirectional surface plasmon source,” Opt. Express20(8), 8710–8717 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
18. A. Baron, E. Devaux, J. C. Rodier, J. P. Hugonin, E. Rousseau, C. Genet, T. W. Ebbesen, and P. Lalanne, “Compact antenna for efficient and unidirectional launching and decoupling of surface plasmons,” Nano Lett.11(10), 4207–4212 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
19. M. He, J. Liu, K. Wang, X. Wang, and Z. Gong, “Efficient directional excitation of surface plasmon polaritons by partial dielectric filling slit structure,” Opt. Commun.285(21-22), 4588–4592 (2012). [CrossRef]
20. S. B. Raghunathan, C. H. Gan, T. van Dijk, B. Ea Kim, H. F. Schouten, W. Ubachs, P. Lalanne, and T. D. Visser, “Plasmon switching: Observation of dynamic surface plasmon steering by selective mode excitation in a sub-wavelength slit,” Opt. Express20(14), 15326–15335 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
21. X. Li, Q. Tan, B. Bai, and G. Jin, “Tunable directional beaming assisted by asymmetrical SPP excitation in a subwavelength metallic double slit,” Chin. Opt. Lett.10(5), 052401–052403 (2012). [CrossRef]
22. J. Chen, Z. Li, S. Yue, and Q. Gong, “Efficient unidirectional generation of surface plasmon polaritons with asymmetric single-nanoslit,” Appl. Phys. Lett.97(4), 041113 (2010). [CrossRef]
23. W. L. David and W. R. Hunter, “Silver (Ag),” and “Chromium (Cr),” in Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids, E. D. Palik, ed. (Academic, Orlando, Fla., 1985).
24. T. Bååk, “Silicon oxynitride; a material for GRIN optics,” Appl. Opt.21(6), 1069–1072 (1982). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
25. R. A. Chipman, “Optical and physical properties of materials,” in Handbook of Optics, M. Bass, ed. (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1995).
26. J. R. Devore, “Refractive indices of rutile and sphalerite,” J. Opt. Soc. Am.41(6), 416–419 (1951). [CrossRef]
27. S. Astilean, Ph. Lalanne, and M. Palamaru, “Light transmission through metallic channels much smaller than the wavelength,” Opt. Commun.175(4-6), 265–273 (2000). [CrossRef]
28. P. Lalanne, J. P. Hugonin, and J. C. Rodier, “Theory of surface plasmon generation at nanoslit apertures,” Phys. Rev. Lett.95(26), 263902 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
29. R. F. Oulton, V. J. Sorger, D. A. Genov, D. F. P. Pile, and X. Zhang, “A hybrid plasmonic waveguide for subwavelength confinement and long-range propagation,” Nat. Photonics2(8), 496–500 (2008). [CrossRef]
30. M. W. Maqsood, R. Mehfuz, and K. J. Chau, “High-throughput diffraction-assisted surface-plasmon-polariton coupling by a super-wavelength slit,” Opt. Express18(21), 21669–21677 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
31. I. Avrutsky, R. Soref, and W. Buchwald, “Sub-wavelength plasmonic modes in a conductor-gap-dielectric system with a nanoscale gap,” Opt. Express18(1), 348–363 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
32. Q. Xu, V. R. Almeida, R. R. Panepucci, and M. Lipson, “Experimental demonstration of guiding and confining light in nanometer-size low-refractive-index material,” Opt. Lett.29(14), 1626–1628 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
33. K. Y. Kim, Plasmonics - Principles and Applications (InTech Rjieka Croatia 2012), Chap. 6.

Appl. Opt.

• T. Bååk, “Silicon oxynitride; a material for GRIN optics,” Appl. Opt.21(6), 1069–1072 (1982). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• J. Chen, Z. Li, S. Yue, and Q. Gong, “Efficient unidirectional generation of surface plasmon polaritons with asymmetric single-nanoslit,” Appl. Phys. Lett.97(4), 041113 (2010). [CrossRef]
• B. Steinberger, A. Hohenau, H. Ditlbacher, F. R. Aussenegg, A. Leitner, and J. R. Krenn, “Dielectric stripes on gold as surface plasmon waveguides: Bends and directional couplers,” Appl. Phys. Lett.91(8), 081111 (2007). [CrossRef]
• B. Wang, L. Aigouy, E. Bourhis, J. Gierak, J. P. Hugonin, and P. Lalanne, “Efficient generation of surface plasmon by single-nanoslit illumination under highly oblique incidence,” Appl. Phys. Lett.94(1), 011114 (2009). [CrossRef]
• J. Chen, Z. Li, S. Yue, and Q. Gong, “Efficient unidirectional generation of surface plasmon polaritons with asymmetric single-nanoslit,” Appl. Phys. Lett.97(4), 041113 (2010). [CrossRef]
• T. Xu, Y. Zhao, D. Gan, C. Wang, C. Du, and X. Luo, “Directional excitation of surface plasmons with subwavelength slits,” Appl. Phys. Lett.92(10), 101501 (2008). [CrossRef]

Chin. Opt. Lett.

• X. Li, Q. Tan, B. Bai, and G. Jin, “Tunable directional beaming assisted by asymmetrical SPP excitation in a subwavelength metallic double slit,” Chin. Opt. Lett.10(5), 052401–052403 (2012). [CrossRef]

J. Opt. Soc. Am.

• J. R. Devore, “Refractive indices of rutile and sphalerite,” J. Opt. Soc. Am.41(6), 416–419 (1951). [CrossRef]

J. Phys. B

• A. Roszkiewicz and W. Nasalski, “Unidirectional SPP excitation at asymmetrical two-layered metal gratings,” J. Phys. B43(18), 185401 (2010). [CrossRef]

Metamaterials (Amst.)

• C. Yan, D. H. Zhang, and D. Li, “Wedge-shaped metal-dielectric composite metamaterials for light control,” Metamaterials (Amst.)4(4), 170–174 (2010). [CrossRef]

Nano Lett.

• A. Baron, E. Devaux, J. C. Rodier, J. P. Hugonin, E. Rousseau, C. Genet, T. W. Ebbesen, and P. Lalanne, “Compact antenna for efficient and unidirectional launching and decoupling of surface plasmons,” Nano Lett.11(10), 4207–4212 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Baron, E. Devaux, J. C. Rodier, J. P. Hugonin, E. Rousseau, C. Genet, T. W. Ebbesen, and P. Lalanne, “Compact antenna for efficient and unidirectional launching and decoupling of surface plasmons,” Nano Lett.11(10), 4207–4212 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nat Commun

• J. S. Q. Liu, R. A. Pala, F. Afshinmanesh, W. Cai, and M. L. Brongersma, “A submicron plasmonic dichroic splitter,” Nat Commun2, 525 (2011). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nat. Mater.

• S. A. Maier, P. G. Kik, H. A. Atwater, S. Meltzer, E. Harel, B. E. Koel, and A. A. G. Requicha, “Local detection of electromagnetic energy transport below the diffraction limit in metal nanoparticle Plasmon waveguides,” Nat. Mater.2(4), 229–232 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Nat. Photonics

• R. F. Oulton, V. J. Sorger, D. A. Genov, D. F. P. Pile, and X. Zhang, “A hybrid plasmonic waveguide for subwavelength confinement and long-range propagation,” Nat. Photonics2(8), 496–500 (2008). [CrossRef]

Nat. Phys.

• F. López-Tejeira, S. G. Rodrigo, L. Martín-Moreno, F. J. García-Vidal, E. Devaux, T. W. Ebbesen, J. R. Krenn, I. P. Radko, S. I. Bozhevolnyi, M. U. González, J. C. Weeber, and A. Dereux, “Efficient unidirectional nanoslit couplers for surface plasmons,” Nat. Phys.3(5), 324–328 (2007). [CrossRef]

Nature

• W. L. Barnes, A. Dereux, and T. W. Ebbesen, “Surface plasmon subwavelength optics,” Nature424(6950), 824–830 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Commun.

• Y. Wang, L. Wang, J. Liu, X. Zhai, L. Wang, D. Xiang, Q. Wan, and B. Meng, “Plasmonic surface-wave bidirectional splitter in different angles of incident light,” Opt. Commun.283(9), 1777–1779 (2010). [CrossRef]
• M. He, J. Liu, K. Wang, X. Wang, and Z. Gong, “Efficient directional excitation of surface plasmon polaritons by partial dielectric filling slit structure,” Opt. Commun.285(21-22), 4588–4592 (2012). [CrossRef]
• Y. Wang, L. Wang, J. Liu, X. Zhai, L. Wang, D. Xiang, Q. Wan, and B. Meng, “Plasmonic surface-wave bidirectional splitter in different angles of incident light,” Opt. Commun.283(9), 1777–1779 (2010). [CrossRef]
• S. Astilean, Ph. Lalanne, and M. Palamaru, “Light transmission through metallic channels much smaller than the wavelength,” Opt. Commun.175(4-6), 265–273 (2000). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• M. W. Maqsood, R. Mehfuz, and K. J. Chau, “High-throughput diffraction-assisted surface-plasmon-polariton coupling by a super-wavelength slit,” Opt. Express18(21), 21669–21677 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• I. Avrutsky, R. Soref, and W. Buchwald, “Sub-wavelength plasmonic modes in a conductor-gap-dielectric system with a nanoscale gap,” Opt. Express18(1), 348–363 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• L. Wang, T. Li, L. Li, W. Xia, X. G. Xu, and S. N. Zhu, “Electrically generated unidirectional surface plasmon source,” Opt. Express20(8), 8710–8717 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• S. B. Raghunathan, C. H. Gan, T. van Dijk, B. Ea Kim, H. F. Schouten, W. Ubachs, P. Lalanne, and T. D. Visser, “Plasmon switching: Observation of dynamic surface plasmon steering by selective mode excitation in a sub-wavelength slit,” Opt. Express20(14), 15326–15335 (2012). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• N. Bonod, E. Popov, L. Li, and B. Chernov, “Unidirectional excitation of surface plasmons by slanted gratings,” Opt. Express15(18), 11427–11432 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• C. Yan, D. H. Zhang, Y. Zhang, D. Li, and M. A. Fiddy, “Metal-dielectric composites for beam splitting and far-field deep sub-wavelength resolution for visible wavelengths,” Opt. Express18(14), 14794–14801 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• Q. Xu, V. R. Almeida, R. R. Panepucci, and M. Lipson, “Experimental demonstration of guiding and confining light in nanometer-size low-refractive-index material,” Opt. Lett.29(14), 1626–1628 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Phys. Rev. Lett.

• P. Lalanne, J. P. Hugonin, and J. C. Rodier, “Theory of surface plasmon generation at nanoslit apertures,” Phys. Rev. Lett.95(26), 263902 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Other

• K. Y. Kim, Plasmonics - Principles and Applications (InTech Rjieka Croatia 2012), Chap. 6.
• W. L. David and W. R. Hunter, “Silver (Ag),” and “Chromium (Cr),” in Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids, E. D. Palik, ed. (Academic, Orlando, Fla., 1985).
• R. A. Chipman, “Optical and physical properties of materials,” in Handbook of Optics, M. Bass, ed. (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1995).
• S. A. Maier, Plasmonics: Fundamentals and applications (Springer, 2007), Chap. 2.

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