Avoiding metallic walls: Use of modal superposition in plasmonic waveguides to reduce propagation loss

TL;DR

This paper proposes a theoretical method using modal superposition to reduce propagation loss in plasmonic waveguides by avoiding metallic walls, balancing low loss with high confinement.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mode combination technique to achieve wall-avoiding field distributions in MIM waveguides, reducing loss.

Findings

Notable loss reduction demonstrated in analytical models

Tradeoffs between low loss and high confinement analyzed

Potential for improved plasmonic waveguide performance

Abstract

We theoretically explore the possibility of reducing the propagation loss in a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide, using mode combinations to achieve wall-avoiding field distributions along a certain propagation length. We present analytical results for several waveguides showing notable loss reduction, and we discuss the tradeoffs between low loss and high confinement present in this technique.