title: High contrast modulation of plasmonic signals using nanoscale dual-frequency liquid crystals.
abstract: We have designed and simulated a dual-frequency liquid crystal (DFLC) based plasmonic signal modulator capable of achieving over 15 dB modulation depth. The voltage-controlled DFLC is combined with a groove and slit configuration and its operation is discussed. Using the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) method, simulations were conducted to discover the groove-slit separation distance that enabled a practically useful modulation depth for the two states of the DFLC. Moreover, we have shown that significant improvement in modulation depth can be achieved by addition of a second groove to the design structure. Additionally, a performance analysis indicates a switching energy on the order of femtojoules and a switching speed on the order of 100 microseconds. Results of this investigation can be useful for the future design, simulation, and fabrication of DFLC-based plasmonic signal modulating devices, which have application in electro-optical and all-optical information systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph S T
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Smalley
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ahmad Ahsan
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nawaz
authors.forename: Qingzhen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Iam-Choon
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: Tony Jun
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D050866:Liquid Crystals; D015233:Models, Statistical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D017785:Photons; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012984:Software; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors