Why Do Field-Based Methods Fail to Model Plasmonics?

• Main Authors: A. M. A. Said, A. M. Heikal, Nihal F. F. Areed, S. S. A. Obayya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 2016-01-01
• Series: IEEE Photonics Journal
• Subjects: Bidirectional Beam Propagation Method (BiBPM); blocked schur; dielectric waveguides; high-index-contrast discontinuity; plasmonic coupler; plasmonic waveguides
• Online Access: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7543475/

The paper studies plasmonics modeling issues and examines the reasons behind the failure of the field-based methods relying on Padé approximations widely used in the analysis of photonic devices based on dielectric materials. Through a study of evanescent, radiation, guided, and surface modes of a plasmonic structure where the failure appears clearly, we demonstrate the physical explanation of this failure and suggest some remedies. We developed a Bidirectional Beam Propagation Method (BiBPM) by adopting a Blocked Schur (BS) algorithm to introduce an unconditionally stable method for plasmonic structures with strong discontinuities. Central to BiBPMs is the accurate calculation of the square root operators that is very widely performed using Padé approximations. However, recent reports demonstrate convergence of Padé that is too slow to lend itself a stable solver in plasmonics. Moreover, Padé approximations completely fail in handling such a strong discontinuity between dielectric and plasmonic waveguides, where a very-wide spectrum of modes could be excited. Alternatively, we propose calculating these operators by the twice faster BS algorithm. Beyond the computational speed, our suggested approach overbears the Padé-based BiBPMs instability and accuracy problems, thanks to the proper physical treatment of surface and evanescent waves: the notorious sources of instability. Through the plasmonic discontinuity problems, the superiority of BS approach has been determined numerically and explained physically.