Abstract

The ever-increasing power of computers and the development of new optimization methodologies have enabled the design of complex aperiodic devices, which can outperform periodic ones and offer new functionalities. In this presentation, I will describe the realization and optical properties of ultra-compact, aperiodic groove-arrays in a metal film. These arrays are capable of performing a variety of valuable optical functions, including unidirectional launching of surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) and spectral splitting of optical signals. The high performance of these structures is in part derived from the strong (light and SPP) scattering properties of the building blocks making up the arrays: subwavelength resonant grooves. They also rely on the unique properties that aperiodic photonic structures have to offer. I will show how a transfer matrix model can be used to facilitate the rapid optimization of complex aperiodic structures. I will also illustrate that the general design principles behind this study may readily be extended to a great diversity of more sophisticated aperiodic nanophotonic devices.

© 2015 Optical Society of America