Optimization of non-periodic plasmonic light-trapping layers for thin-film solar cells.

Non-periodic arrangements of nanoscale light scatterers allow for the realization of extremely effective broadband light-trapping layers for solar cells. However, their optimization is challenging given the massive number of degrees of freedom. Brute-force, full-field electromagnetic simulations are computationally too time intensive to identify high-performance solutions in a vast design space.

A submicron plasmonic dichroic splitter.

Spectral imaging and sensing techniques, new solar cell designs and wavelength-division multiplexing in optical communication rely on structures that collect and sort photons by wavelength. The strong push for chip-scale integration of such optical components has necessitated ultracompact, planar structures, and fomented great interest in identifying the smallest possible devices. Consequently, novel micro-ring, photonic crystal and plasmonic solutions have emerged.

Side-coupled cavity model for surface plasmon-polariton transmission across a groove.

We demonstrate that the transmission properties of surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) across a rectangular groove in a metallic film can be described by an analytical model that treats the groove as a side-coupled cavity to propagating SPPs on the metal surface. The coupling efficiency to the groove is quantified by treating it as a truncated metal-dielectric-metal (MDM) waveguide. Finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) simulations and mode orthogonality relations are employed to derive the basic scattering coefficients that describe the interaction between the relevant modes in the system.