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Metal-dielectric multilayer structure supporting surface plasmons: electromagnetic modelling by the method of single expression

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Abstract

Surface plasmons’ (SPs) excitation in Kretschmann configuration, where the thin metallic layer is substituted by a metal-dielectric multilayer (MDML) structure is analysed numerically. For numerical analysis the method of single expression (MSE) is used. Derivation of MSE equations for analyzing TM polarized wave incident on a multilayer structure is presented. First, for validation, an excitation of SPs in conventional Kretschmann configuration with single silver layer is analysed. Further, four possible combinations of MDML \(\hbox {(silver/SiO}_\mathrm{2})\) structures of different alternation of outermost layers are analysed on the subject of SPs excitation. It is obtained that MDML structures can support SPs at specific number of layers, when the total thickness of metallic layers in MDML structure is less than the thickness of single metallic layer in conventional Kretschmann configuration. It is found, that specific angles of SPs excitation for MDML structures are greater than that for conventional Kretschmann configuration.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank COST Action MP0702 “Towards Functional Sub-Wavelength Photonic Structures” for stimulating discussions. Authors also thankful for support provided by Armenian grant 13-2J204 of State Committee of Science.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fiber Optics Communication Laboratory, State Engineering University of Armenia, 105, Terian Str., 0009 , Yerevan, Armenia

    H. V. Baghdasaryan, T. M. Knyazyan & T. T. Hovhannisyan

  2. Department of Transmission and Optical Technologies, National Institute of Telecommunications, 1 Szachowa Street, 04-894 , Warsaw, Poland

    M. Marciniak

  3. Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics and Computer Science, Kielce University of Technology, Al. Tysiaclecia Panstwa Polskiego 7, 25-314 , Kielce, Poland

    M. Marciniak

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  1. H. V. Baghdasaryan
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Correspondence to H. V. Baghdasaryan.

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Baghdasaryan, H.V., Knyazyan, T.M., Hovhannisyan, T.T. et al. Metal-dielectric multilayer structure supporting surface plasmons: electromagnetic modelling by the method of single expression. Opt Quant Electron 47, 3–15 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-014-0003-3

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