Controlled flow of nonlinear surface plasmon polaritons

Abstract

The control of flow of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) propagating at the single interface of metal and dielectric media and also in plasmonic waveguides is considered. The SPP energy flux is sufficient for appearance of the nonlinear polarization of the media. SPP flow propagates along the interface as a quasiharmonic wave in the linear regime at weak intensity and as a cnoidal wave in the form of a pulse train or solitons in the nonlinear regime at strong intensity of the flow. The forms and periods of these waves are determined by the power of external source and the boundary conditions of the SPP flow excitation. The propagation of SPP flow in plasmonic waveguides depends on the phase shift under the effect of external electric field in the waveguide insert. Thereby, the energy flux of SPPs in the plasmonic waveguide can be controlled by the power of source and the external electric field also.