Equifrequency curve dispersion in dielectric-loaded plasmonic crystals

Abstract

We present a quantitative description of the momentum-space dispersion and directivity of light propagation in dielectric-loaded plasmonic crystals. In our analysis the three-dimensional lossy plasmonic crystals are modeled by two-dimensional lossless dielectric crystals with real effective refractive indexes. Simulated equifrequency curves are in excellent agreement with measured Fourier plane images obtained from dye-doped dielectric-loaded plasmonic crystals with different lattice geometries and parameters. Our results provide fundamental information about the origin of the directional bandgaps in these structures. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.