Wireless communication system via nanoscale plasmonic antennas.

Juan M Merlo,Jeffrey R Naughton,Michael J Naughton,Chaobin Yang,Luke D’Imperio,Nathan T Nesbitt,Yitzi M Calm,Krzysztof Kempa,Aaron H Rose,Michael J Burns

doi:10.1038/srep31710

Abstract

Present on-chip optical communication technology uses near-infrared light, but visible wavelengths would allow system miniaturization and higher energy confinement. Towards this end, we report a nanoscale wireless communication system that operates at visible wavelengths via in-plane information transmission. Here, plasmonic antenna radiation mediates a three-step conversion process (surface plasmon → photon → surface plasmon) with in-plane efficiency (plasmon → plasmon) of 38% for antenna separation 4λ0 (with λ0 the free-space excitation wavelength). Information transmission is demonstrated at bandwidths in the Hz and MHz ranges. This work opens the possibility of optical conveyance of information using plasmonic antennas for on-chip communication technology.

Highlights

Present on-chip optical communication technology uses near-infrared light, but visible wavelengths would allow system miniaturization and higher energy confinement
We have experimentally demonstrated the first approach to high efficiency in-plane information transmission using surface plasmon (SP) →photon →SP interactions by momentum up- and down-conversion processes
The experimental efficiency is of the same order as that numerically calculated, it could be improved by using higher directivity antennas as well as smoother metal surfaces

Summary

Introduction

Present on-chip optical communication technology uses near-infrared light, but visible wavelengths would allow system miniaturization and higher energy confinement Towards this end, we report a nanoscale wireless communication system that operates at visible wavelengths via in-plane information transmission. Most modern on-chip optical technology uses near-infrared wavelengths[3], but for visible wavelengths, an ideal candidate to perform in-plane communication is the surface plasmon (SP), i.e. the collective oscillation of electrons coupled to an electromagnetic field at a dielectric-metal interface. We present the realization of the first nanoscale wireless communication system (nWCS) operating at visible wavelengths and based on plasmonic antennas Such a system is implemented in an in-plane configuration, meaning it allows information transmission and recovery via SPs propagating in the same plane. Beyond proof-of-concept, we show two example applications of the system for in-plane information transmission

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Conclusion