Realization of subwavelength guiding utilizing coupled wedge plasmon polaritons in splitted groove waveguides

A detailed numerical study of propagation characteristics of a coupled wedge plasmon polariton (CWPP) in splitted groove waveguide (SGW) formed with two metal wedges is performed by using the finite element method (FEM). It is shown that the SGW structure could confine CWPP modes tightly to the nano-gap region between the wedge tips, operating in a much broad bandwidth. The effect of the glass substrate, wedge roundness, gap width, groove wedge angle, and groove depth are also investigated. Particularly, our SGWs are found to be quite robust against groove depth reduction, which could be beneficial to minimize the waveguide structure dimensions. Feasibility of using such SGWs for the design of efficient subwavelength plasmonic elements is also discussed on the nanoscale whispering gallery resonators as an example. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America