Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Optics and Lasers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2017) | Viewed by 50036

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Departiment of Applied Science and Technology, Polytechnic University of Turin, corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy
Interests: optical sensors; nanophotonics; light-responsive structures

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Almost forty years since the first published works by Yeh and Yariv in the late 1970s, surface modes on periodic planar structures are still triggering new and exciting research opportunities in the field of micro- and nano-photonics. In particular, during the last two decades, a renewed broad interest in these dielectric multilayer-sustaining surface modes has occurred, thanks to advancements in the available fabrication technology and the many inspirational analogies with plasmonics and waveguide optics. As a result, Bloch Surface Waves now represent a powerful and easy-to-handle concept for a number of different application fields, such as integrated optics, optical sensing, and lighting.

This Special Issue is expected to provide an extensive overview of the most recent results obtained in Bloch Surface Waves-based optics, wherein surface modes play a key role in label-free sensing, field-enhancement and directional emission effects, 2D optical circuits, non-linear, magneto- and electro-optical phenomena, and in light–matter interactions in strong coupling regimes.

Prof. Emiliano Descrovi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Theoretical aspects of light confinement and guiding on photonic crystal surfaces
  • Design, fabrication and characterization of optical surface waves
  • Surface wave-coupled emission effects
  • Surface wave-based sensing (label-free, fluorescence, Raman)
  • Non-linear, magneto- and electro-optical phenomena involving surface waves
  • Bloch surface polaritons
  • Platforms and circuits for two-dimensional optics

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 2586 KiB  
Article
Bloch Surface Waves Using Graphene Layers: An Approach toward In-Plane Photodetectors
by Richa Dubey, Miriam Marchena, Babak Vosoughi Lahijani, Myun-Sik Kim, Valerio Pruneri and Hans Peter Herzig
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(3), 390; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app8030390 - 07 Mar 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5756
Abstract
A dielectric multilayer platform was investigated as a foundation for two-dimensional optics. In this paper, we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental demonstration of absorption of Bloch surface waves in the presence of graphene layers. Graphene is initially grown [...] Read more.
A dielectric multilayer platform was investigated as a foundation for two-dimensional optics. In this paper, we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental demonstration of absorption of Bloch surface waves in the presence of graphene layers. Graphene is initially grown on a Cu foil via Chemical Vapor Deposition and transferred layer by layer by a wet-transfer method using poly(methyl methacrylate), (PMMA). We exploit total internal reflection configuration and multi-heterodyne scanning near-field optical microscopy as a far-field coupling method and near-field characterization tool, respectively. The absorption is quantified in terms of propagation lengths of Bloch surface waves. A significant drop in the propagation length of the BSWs is observed in the presence of graphene layers. The propagation length of BSWs in bare multilayer is reduced to 17 times shorter in presence of graphene monolayer, and 23 times shorter for graphene bilayer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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10 pages, 4482 KiB  
Article
Bloch-Surface-Polariton-Based Hybrid Nanowire Structure for Subwavelength, Low-Loss Waveguiding
by Weijing Kong, Yuhang Wan, Wenhui Zhao, Shuna Li and Zheng Zheng
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(3), 358; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app8030358 - 01 Mar 2018
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3457
Abstract
Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) have been thoroughly studied in the past decades for not only sensing but also waveguiding applications. Various plasmonic device structures have been explored due to their ability to confine their optical mode to the subwavelength level. However, with the [...] Read more.
Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) have been thoroughly studied in the past decades for not only sensing but also waveguiding applications. Various plasmonic device structures have been explored due to their ability to confine their optical mode to the subwavelength level. However, with the existence of metal, the large ohmic loss limits the propagation distance of the SPP and thus the scalability of such devices. Therefore, different hybrid waveguides have been proposed to overcome this shortcoming. Through fine tuning of the coupling between the SPP and a conventional waveguide mode, a hybrid mode could be excited with decent mode confinement and extended propagation distance. As an effective alternative of SPP, Bloch surface waves have been re-investigated more recently for their unique advantages. As is supported in all-dielectric structures, the optical loss for the Bloch surface wave is much lower, which stands for a much longer propagating distance. Yet, the confinement of the Bloch surface wave due to the reflections and refractions in the multilayer structure is not as tight as that of the SPP. In this work, by integrating a periodic multilayer structure that supports the Bloch surface wave with a metallic nanowire structure, a hybrid Bloch surface wave polariton could be excited. With the proposed hybrid nanowire structure, a hybrid mode is demonstrated with the deep subwavelength mode confinement and a propagation distance of tens of microns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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9 pages, 949 KiB  
Article
Photonic Crystal-Supported Long-Range Surface Plasmon-Polaritons Propagating Along High-Quality Silver Nanofilms
by Sergey K. Sekatskii, Anton Smirnov, Giovanni Dietler, Mohammad Nur E. Alam, Mikhail Vasiliev and Kamal Alameh
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(2), 248; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app8020248 - 06 Feb 2018
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4269
Abstract
Long-range surface plasmon-polaritons (LRSPP) with a propagation length equal to 180 microns at the wavelength of 633 nm have been observed at the interface of 12.5 nm-thick silver nanofilm, coated by a 20 nm-thick protective ZnS layer, with air. Their propagation has been [...] Read more.
Long-range surface plasmon-polaritons (LRSPP) with a propagation length equal to 180 microns at the wavelength of 633 nm have been observed at the interface of 12.5 nm-thick silver nanofilm, coated by a 20 nm-thick protective ZnS layer, with air. Their propagation has been supported by a specially prepared 40-layer 1D Photonic Crystal designed in such a manner that silver layer has been deposited directly onto thin ZnS layer, earlier shown to be a non-oxide material most suitable for the preparation of high-quality thin silver nanofilms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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9 pages, 4239 KiB  
Article
Stepwise Luneburg Lens for Bloch Surface Waves
by Myun-Sik Kim, Babak Vosoughi Lahijani and Hans Peter Herzig
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(2), 245; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app8020245 - 06 Feb 2018
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4376
Abstract
In order to enlarge the capability for in-plane manipulation of the Bloch surface wave (BSW), we investigate 2D gradient index (GRIN) optical components using a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical method. To ease difficulties in fabrication to acquire a continuous index profile of GRIN [...] Read more.
In order to enlarge the capability for in-plane manipulation of the Bloch surface wave (BSW), we investigate 2D gradient index (GRIN) optical components using a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical method. To ease difficulties in fabrication to acquire a continuous index profile of GRIN optical components, we propose a stepwise index profile. For 2D surface wave devices, such discrete index steps can be achieved by stepwise structuring of the top layer, also called the device layer. For the demonstration of the stepwise GRIN optics concept, we consider a Luneburg lens, which is a good example of the GRIN optical component that produces a strong focal spot on the shadow-side curvature of the lens. The limited index contrast of the BSW systems loosens the confinement of the focal spot. A mitigation plan is to elongate the circular geometry to the prolate ellipse. BSW-based Luneburg lenses with a relatively small number of steps and an elliptical geometry are demonstrated with comparable performances to a standard Luneburg lens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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10 pages, 1918 KiB  
Article
Manipulating Propagation Constants of Silver Nanowire Plasmonic Waveguide Modes Using a Dielectric Multilayer Substrate
by Yifeng Xiang, Junxue Chen, Douguo Zhang, Ruxue Wang, Yan Kuai, Fengya Lu, Xi Tang, Pei Wang, Hai Ming, Mary Rosenfeld, Ramachandram Badugu and Joseph R. Lakowicz
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(1), 144; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app8010144 - 22 Jan 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5423
Abstract
Experiments and numerical simulations demonstrate that when a silver nanowire is placed on a dielectric multilayer, but not the commonly used bare glass slide, the effective refractive index of the propagating surface plasmons along the silver nanowire can be controlled. Furthermore, by increasing [...] Read more.
Experiments and numerical simulations demonstrate that when a silver nanowire is placed on a dielectric multilayer, but not the commonly used bare glass slide, the effective refractive index of the propagating surface plasmons along the silver nanowire can be controlled. Furthermore, by increasing the thickness of the top dielectric layer, longer wavelength light can also propagate along a very thin silver nanowire. In the experiment, the diameter of the silver nanowire could be as thin as 70 nm, with the incident wavelength as long as 640 nm. The principle of this control is analysed from the existence of a photonic band gap and the Bloch surface wave with this dielectric multilayer substrate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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13 pages, 3997 KiB  
Article
Surface Waves Propagating on Grounded Anisotropic Dielectric Slab
by Zhuozhu Chen and Zhongxiang Shen
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(1), 102; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app8010102 - 11 Jan 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5616
Abstract
This paper investigates the characteristics of surface waves propagating on a grounded anisotropic dielectric slab. Distinct from the existing analyses that generally assume that the fields of surface wave uniformly distribute along the transverse direction of the infinitely large grounded slab, our method [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the characteristics of surface waves propagating on a grounded anisotropic dielectric slab. Distinct from the existing analyses that generally assume that the fields of surface wave uniformly distribute along the transverse direction of the infinitely large grounded slab, our method takes into account the field variations along the transverse direction of a finite-width slab. By solving Maxwell’s equations in closed-form, it is revealed that no pure transverse magnetic (TM) or transverse electric (TE) mode exists if the fields are non-uniformly distributed along the transverse direction of the grounded slab. Instead, two hybrid modes, namely quasi-TM and quasi-TE modes, are supported. In addition, the propagation characteristics of two hybrid modes supported by the grounded anisotropic slab are analyzed in terms of the slab thickness, slab width, as well as the relative permittivity tensor of the anisotropic slab. Furthermore, different methods are employed to compare the analyses, as well as to validate our derivations. The proposed method is very suitable for practical engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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9 pages, 3824 KiB  
Article
Bloch Surface Wave Photonic Device Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser Polymerisation Technique
by Ksenia A. Abrashitova, Dmitry N. Gulkin, Kirill R. Safronov, Natalia G. Kokareva, Ilya M. Antropov, Vladimir O. Bessonov and Andrey A. Fedyanin
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(1), 63; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app8010063 - 04 Jan 2018
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5583
Abstract
We applied femtosecond laser polymerisation technique to fabricate a novel Bloch surface wave integrated photonic device with a compact coupling scheme. The device consisted of a waveguide, coupling and decoupling gratings and focusing and defocusing triangles. We manufactured an array of devices with [...] Read more.
We applied femtosecond laser polymerisation technique to fabricate a novel Bloch surface wave integrated photonic device with a compact coupling scheme. The device consisted of a waveguide, coupling and decoupling gratings and focusing and defocusing triangles. We manufactured an array of devices with varying geometrical parameters of waveguide. Excitation and propagation of Bloch surface wave waveguide modes were studied by direct and back focal plane imaging. The obtained results prove that the maskless and flexible femtosecond laser polymerisation technique may be applied for fabrication of Bloch-surface-wave based integrated photonics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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2103 KiB  
Article
Slot Waveguide Enhanced Bloch Surface Waves
by Matthieu Roussey
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(1), 39; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app8010039 - 30 Dec 2017
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4293
Abstract
The paper presents a novel concept for the on-chip integration of a multilayer platform sustaining Bloch surface waves further enhanced by the so-called slot waveguide effect. Through simulations, we demonstrate that a carefully designed polymer waveguide arrangement coated with a subwavelength dielectric multilayer [...] Read more.
The paper presents a novel concept for the on-chip integration of a multilayer platform sustaining Bloch surface waves further enhanced by the so-called slot waveguide effect. Through simulations, we demonstrate that a carefully designed polymer waveguide arrangement coated with a subwavelength dielectric multilayer can be efficiently used to first excite a Bloch surface wave at the surface of the multilayer and second to enhance this wave and allow longer propagation of the surface mode by constructive superimposition of two evanescent tails inside a narrow gap. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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2631 KiB  
Article
Bloch Surface Waves for MoS2 Emission Coupling and Polariton Systems
by Giovanni Lerario, Dario Ballarini, Lorenzo Dominici, Antonio Fieramosca, Alessandro Cannavale, Matthew Holwill, Aleksey Kozikov, Kostya S. Novoselov and Giuseppe Gigli
Appl. Sci. 2017, 7(12), 1217; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app7121217 - 24 Nov 2017
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5067
Abstract
Due to their extraordinary quality factor and extreme sensitivity to surface perturbations, Bloch surface waves (BSW) have been widely investigated for sensing applications so far. Over the last few years, on-chip control of optical signals through BSW has experienced a rapidly-expanding interest in [...] Read more.
Due to their extraordinary quality factor and extreme sensitivity to surface perturbations, Bloch surface waves (BSW) have been widely investigated for sensing applications so far. Over the last few years, on-chip control of optical signals through BSW has experienced a rapidly-expanding interest in the scientific community, attesting to BSW’s position at the forefront towards on-chip optical operations. The backbone of on-chip optical devices requires the choice of integrated optical sources with peculiar optic/optoelectronic properties, the efficient in-plane propagation of the optical signal and the possibility to dynamic manipulate the signal through optical or electrical driving. In this paper, we discuss our approach in addressing these requirements. Regarding the optical source integration, we demonstrate the possibility to couple the MoS2 mono- and bi-layers emission—when integrated on top of a 1D photonic crystal—to a BSW. Afterward, we review our results on BSW-based polariton systems (BSWP). We show that the BSWPs combine long-range propagation with energy tuning of their dispersion through polariton–polariton interactions, paving the way for logic operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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Review

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15 pages, 1388 KiB  
Review
Optical Effects Induced by Bloch Surface Waves in One-Dimensional Photonic Crystals
by Irina V. Soboleva, Maria N. Romodina, Evgeny V. Lyubin and Andrey A. Fedyanin
Appl. Sci. 2018, 8(1), 127; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app8010127 - 17 Jan 2018
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5417
Abstract
The review considers the influence of Bloch surface waves on the optical and magneto-optical effects observed in photonic crystals; for example, the Goos–Hänchen effect, the Faraday effect, optical trapping and so on. Prospects for using Bloch surface waves for spatial light modulation, for [...] Read more.
The review considers the influence of Bloch surface waves on the optical and magneto-optical effects observed in photonic crystals; for example, the Goos–Hänchen effect, the Faraday effect, optical trapping and so on. Prospects for using Bloch surface waves for spatial light modulation, for controlling the polarization of light, for optical trapping and control of micro-objects are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Waves on Planar Photonic Crystals)
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