Guided Bloch surface waves on ultrathin polymeric ridges.

Descrovi, Emiliano; Sfez, Tristan; Quaglio, Marzia; Brunazzo, Daniele; Dominici, Lorenzo; Michelotti, Francesco; Herzig, Hans Peter; Martin, Olivier J F et al. · Nano Lett · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We present a direct evidence of Bloch surface waves (BSWs) waveguiding on ultrathin polymeric ridges, supported by near-field measurements. It is demonstrated that near-infrared BSWs sustained by a silicon-based multilayer can be locally coupled and guided through dielectric ridges of nanometric thickness with low propagation losses. Using a conventional prism-based configuration, we demonstrate a wavelength-selective BSW coupling inside and outside the ridge. Such a result can open interesting opportunities in surface wave-mediated sensing applications, where light could be selectively coupled in specific regions defined by nanometric reliefs.