Characteristics of band structure and surface plasmons supported by a one-dimensional graphene-dielectric photonic crystal

We theoretically investigate characteristics of TM projected band structure and of surface plasmons (SPs) supported by a one-dimensional graphene-dielectric photonic crystal (1D GPC). It is concluded that in addition to supporting structural and graphene absorption bandgaps, both coupled and pure SPs can be supported by the 1D GPC. To be tunable by the electrical gating and having higher localization and larger propagation length are remarkable advantages of pure SPs supported by the 1D GPC, as compared to ones supported by a 1D metallic PC. On one hand, using graphene disks instead of graphene sheets in the 1D GPC, besides supporting SPs in larger frequency range, causes widening bandgaps. Therefore, it increases the far-IR filtering characteristics of the structure. On the other hand, the decrease in width of dielectric layers causes widening graphene absorption bandgaps and also the frequency range of supported SPs. Moreover, this decrease enables the structure to support pure SPs with higher localization and longer length of propagation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.