Controlling light propagation with nanowires

We study the interaction of electromagnetic waves (EM) with metallic nanowire systems for frequencies not far from the surface plasma frequency (polaritonic range). We employ calculation and simulation to show that when excited at one end with axially polarized EM waves, nanowires can function as efficient waveguides of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). From the Fabry-Perot resonances of standing SPP waves, we study their dispersion relation and show that for a vanishing SPP wavelength it is identical to that for a planar metallic surface. Nanowire systems can be employed in various nanophotonic applications, and we assess this potential by studying propagation characteristics of these nano-waveguides and their interactions. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4704193]