Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), propagating modes excited at the planar interface between a metal and a dielectric, can serve as energy and information conduits.  Because of their exceptional confinement to the planar interface, SPPs behave as 2-D waves. Further lateral confinement of SPPs is possible, but is generally thought to come at the expense of the propagation length of the mode. We will discuss how refraction of SPPs at a linear interface between different metal surfaces introduces inhomogeneities in the waveform which can lead to significant lateral confinement and, in certain cases, strong propagation length enhancement.  For example, refractionof SPPs in a limit analogous to total internal reflection leads to modes which are effectively confinedto 1-dimension while simultaneously demonstrating enhanced propagation lengths.A complex generalization of Snell's law to describe the refraction of SPPs is required, and interesting predictions from this will be discussed.In particular, complex Snell's law predicts the SPP dispersion will depend strongly on the details of the incident wave aswell as the properties of the metal/dielectric surface.  This prediction opens new possibilities for engineering the SPP dispersion and tailoring the confinement and propagation properties.

Controlling confinement and propagation length of surface plasmon polaritons using complex Snell's law

247th National Meeting (2014)

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