title: Diabolical point and conical-like diffraction in periodic plasmonic nanostructures.
abstract: We present the formation of a singular (diabolical) point in k-space from a periodic metal-dielectric waveguide array. The singularity originates from the balance between alternating normal and anomalous coupling. We numerically demonstrate a strong diffraction anomaly (conical-like diffraction) near the singular point. We also show the evolution of the diffraction pattern with band deformation. The resultant peculiar propagation dynamics of surface plasmon polaritons could provide a new toolset for manipulating light on the nano-scale.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Materials Physics & Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA. snam@lanl.gov
authors.forename: Sung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Antoinette J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Anatoly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Efimov
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008027:Light; D008956:Models, Chemical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000379:methods*