Propagation characteristics of hybrid modes supported by metal-low-high index waveguides and bends

Hybrid-mode waveguides consisting of a metal surface separated from a high index medium by a low index spacer have attracted much interest recently. Power is concentrated in the low index spacer region for this waveguide. Here we investigate the properties of the hybrid mode in detail and numerically demonstrate the possibility of realizing compact waveguide bends using this wave guiding scheme. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America