Abstract
SummaryLogic gates are important components in integrated photonic circuitry. Here, a series of logic gates to achieve fundamental logic operations based on linear interference in spoof surface plasmon polariton waveguides are demonstrated at terahertz frequencies. A metasurface-based plasmonic source is adopted to couple free-space terahertz radiation into surface waves, followed by a funnel-shaped metasurface to efficiently couple the surface waves to the waveguides built on a domino structure. A single Mach-Zehnder waveguide interferometer can work as logic gates for four logic functions: AND, NOT, OR, and XOR. By cascading two such interferometers, NAND and NOR operations can also be achieved. Experimental investigations are supported by numerical simulations, and good agreement is obtained. The logic gates have compact sizes and high intensity contrasts for the output “1” and “0” states. More complicated functions can be envisioned and will be of great value for future terahertz integrated computing.
Highlights
Terahertz (THz) technology is of great potential in developing next-generation, ultrahigh-speed communications, owing to its broad frequency band and capability in carrying ultralarge amounts of information (Nagatsuma et al, 2013; Akyildiz et al, 2014)
A series of logic gates to achieve fundamental logic operations based on linear interference in spoof surface plasmon polariton waveguides are demonstrated at terahertz frequencies
A metasurface-based plasmonic source is adopted to couple free-space terahertz radiation into surface waves, followed by a funnelshaped metasurface to efficiently couple the surface waves to the waveguides built on a domino structure
Summary
Terahertz (THz) technology is of great potential in developing next-generation, ultrahigh-speed communications, owing to its broad frequency band and capability in carrying ultralarge amounts of information (Nagatsuma et al, 2013; Akyildiz et al, 2014). The development of THz on-chip system based on surface plasmons is considered an important avenue for THz systems to be compact and multifunctional. This scheme is the most promising one to achieve the simultaneous transmission of electrical and optical signals, considering the vital role THz waves might play in future communications. In the THz and microwave regimes, because the dielectric constant of metals approaches that of a perfect conductor, highly confined SPPs at flat metal surfaces cannot be achieved (Jeon and Grischkowsky, 2006; Shen et al, 2008).
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