Eur. Phys. J. D (2013) 67: 103
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2013-40018-5

Regular Article

Mode analysis of surface plasmon metal-dielectric-metal nanowire array waveguide at sub-wavelength scale

¹ Computer Center of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, P.R. China
² College of Physics and Electronics Engineering of Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, P.R. China

^a e-mail: Tianjp@sxu.edu.cn

Received: 8 January 2013
Received in final form: 19 March 2013
Published online: 7 May 2013

Abstract

A kind of surface plasmon waveguide (SPW) formed from metal-dielectric-metal nanowire array is proposed. The mode properties are analyzed. Theoretical analysis reveals that at appropriate geometrical parameters, the optimal mode properties such as longer propagation length and better sub-wavelength mode confinement can be obtained. It is found that when the center dielectric nanowire is replaced by gain medium, the propagation length can be extended obviously without changing the effective mode index and mode size clearly. The studied waveguide could be an interesting alternative to the application of realizing high density photonic devices integration, nanoscale photonic circuits and sensors.