Waveguide-Plasmon Polariton Quasiparticles with Exceptional Point Characteristics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how non-Hermitian physics in hybrid plasmonic waveguides can create exceptional point degeneracies, enabling highly tunable, low-power integrated photonic devices with enhanced modal control.

Contribution

It introduces a novel hybrid plasmonic waveguide design supporting exceptional points, offering new control over mode properties for integrated photonics.

Findings

Achieved exceptional point degeneracy in hybrid plasmonic waveguides.

Enhanced modal contrast between low-loss and dissipative states.

Enabled ultracompact, tunable photonic devices with reduced power consumption.

Abstract

The growing complexity of integrated photonics necessitates compact, low-power devices that transcend traditional, material-centric design approaches. In this study, we harness non-Hermitian physics to uncover novel properties of coupled plasmonic waveguide modes exhibiting exceptional point (EP) degeneracy. Our hybrid plasmonic waveguide architecture, capable of supporting both strong and weak coupling regimes between plasmonic and dielectric waveguide modes, is precisely engineered to reach an EP where eigenmodes coalesce. This strategic tuning not only enhances the modal contrast between minimized-loss and highly dissipative states but also enables unprecedented control over device characteristics. Our findings introduce a new paradigm in integrated photonics, paving the way for ultracompact modulators and highly tunable on-chip communication systems with reduced power consumption.