Vortex lattice of surface plasmon polaritons

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the formation of a plasmon polariton vortex lattice on a metal surface following the interference of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). The plasmon polariton vortex lattice is formed by the interference of the SPP transverse-magnetic mode (TM-mode) and electric mode (E-mode) in the presence of the inhomogeneity with a curvilinear boundary on the surface of the metal layer. The SPP vortex lattice can be controlled by changing the configuration of the boundary. Weak nonlinearity of the metal permittivity does not change the interference pattern, but it increases the propagation length of the SPPs and, therefore, the area of the vortex lattice too.

Formation of Surface Plasmon-Polariton Vortices at Reflection from Curvilinear Boundary

“…SPPs from the inhomogeneity of permittivity with curvilinear boundary [35][36][37]. The plasmon vortices do not arise in case of superposition of the modes reflected from a straight line boundary of the inhomogeneity.…”

Singular optics and topological photonics

“…Interaction of structured light with matter has been studied by several groups in the context of forming hybrid plasmon-polariton or exciton-polariton vortex states and exciting atoms by twisted photons. Dzedolik and co-authors report on the formation of plasmon polariton vortex lattices on the metal surface formed the interference of the surface plasmon polaritons scattered by curvilinear boundaries [52]. Afanasev and colleagues calculate transition amplitudes and cross sections for excitation of hydrogen-like atoms by twisted photon states, and predict the transition rates into the high-OAM states to be comparable with the rates for electric dipole transitions if the atom is located near the phase singularity [53].…”