Magneto-plasmons in optical slab waveguides

Abstract

The effect of an externally applied magnetic field on the propagation characteristics of a plasmon-polariton wave supported by an infinitely wide thin metal waveguide was investigated. In order to do so, the dispersion relation was derived, from Maxwell's equations, enabling accurate modelling of the situation of interest. The general dispersion relation, including the constraint equation, for magneto-plasmons was derived in general, and then, specifically for a magnetic field applied along three orthogonal cartesian axes. The losses in the metal were included in the dispersion equation so that a better understanding of the influence of an externally applied magnetic field may be provided. The dispersion relation is used as the basis of a software model of magneto-plasmons in thin metal films. This model is validated against specific cases in the literature with and without an externally applied magnetic field. The specific formulations in the literature were deemed to be incorrect, and have been corrected and the results have been interpreted. The model is then used to simulate thin gold films bounded by silicon dioxide at an infrared wavelength. The modelling results include the effect of the externally applied magnetic field on the propagation constant and the corresponding field components for all three Cartesian orientations of externally applied magnetic field. The results from these simulations are presented and interpreted. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)