Resonance modes of a metal-semiconductor-metal multilayer mediated by electric charge

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields around metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) multilayers with square island top layers were numerically simulated to elucidate the difference in physics between the circuit resonance and Fabry–Pérot interference mediated by the surface plasmon polaritons (SPP). In the current study, the top and bottom metal layers were made of gold, and the intermediate semiconductor layer was a gallium antimony (GaSb). The lumped-element and Fabry–Pérot interference models showed less accuracy when the island width of the MSM multilayer was comparatively smaller. Since the capacitor and SPP could not be supported between the top and bottom gold layers, the anti-reflection mode of the gold–GaSb bilayer mainly affected the absorptance. However, when the width of the island was sufficiently large, the time-lapse development of the electromagnetic fields at resonant wavelengths showed strong electric and magnetic responses relating to the circuit resonance. Simultaneously, the electric fields depicted the movement of the electric charge, which coupled to the short-range surface plasmon polariton (SRSP) existing at the thin GaSb layer sandwiched by two gold layers. The wavelength of the SRSP approximately corresponded to that of the Fabry–Pérot interference. It was revealed that the lumped-element and Fabry–Pérot interference models indicated the same resonant mode from two different perspectives in physics.