Plasmon Generation and Routing in Nanowire-Based Hybrid Plasmonic Coupling Systems With Incorporated Nanodisk Antennas

Developing efficient techniques to bridge single-plasmon radiations to nanoscale plasmonic waveguides nowadays is still a critical consideration for on-chip integration of solid-state photonic circuits. Here, we propose and theoretically demonstrate the generation and routing of single plasmons in nanowire-based hybrid plasmonic coupling structures with nanodisk antenna resonators. Optimizations of key characteristic parameters illustrate that the structure not only offers an enhanced tradeoff between the propagation length (similar to 20 mu m) and mode confinement (similar to lambda(2)/8450), but also exhibits outstanding plasmon generation and guiding properties, such as a Purcell factor of 2.14 x 10(6), a coupling efficiency from emissions to desired waveguides of 59%, and a Figure-of-Merit of 3 x 10(7) in the visible and infrared spectral range, which outperforms the previous plasmonic structures. The plasmon emission properties are also quite robust against possible emitter positioning imperfections. Our work may inspire new opportunities in helping design quantum-plasmonic platforms for future quantum information processing and related on-chip plasmonic devices.

Automated summary

Efficient techniques for bridging single-plasmon radiations to nanoscale plasmonic waveguides are critical for on-chip integration of solid-state photonic circuits. This study demonstrates the generation and routing of single plasmons in nanowire-based hybrid plasmonic structures with nanodisk antenna resonators, showing enhanced tradeoff between propagation length and mode confinement, outstanding plasmon generation and guiding properties, and robust emission characteristics against emitter positioning imperfections.