Nanoscale optical waveguides with negative dielectric claddings

The dispersion properties of waveguides with negative dielectric cladding are investigated. It is found that TM1 modes can exist even in waveguides with the thickness of the guiding layer 10 times smaller than the wavelength; i.e., the guiding layers can be in nanometer scale. The bandpassing, frequency-response, and transmission loss properties are analyzed. The waveguides may find application in integrated optical devices, optical lithography, subwavelength optical imaging, and nonlinear optics on the merit of high-energy density in an ultrathin region.