Broad-bandgap and low-sidelobe surface plasmon polariton reflector with Bragg-grating-based MIM waveguide

Surface plasmon polariton reflector (SPPR) based on metal-insulator-metal (MIM) Bragg grating waveguide is numerically studied. A quasi-chirped technique is applied to the engraved grooves in the surface of the MIM waveguide, and a new kind of broad-bandgap SPPR is achieved. Meanwhile, by optimizing the profile of gap width between the metal and dielectric, the spectral sidelobe of SPPR is effectively suppressed and thus the performance of the SPPR is further improved. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America