Multifunctional and multi-output plasmonic meta-elements for integrated optical circuits

Based on a novel phase-sieve method by in-plane interference processes, a well-designed nonperiodic nanogroove array on gold surface is proposed as a multifunctional and multi-output plasmonic meta-element (MPM) for surface plasmon polariton waves. An MPM functions as a plasmonic lens (PL) as well as a plasmonic array illuminator (PAI), and another MPM acts as two PLs with an intersection angle of π/4 are fabricated and validated by leakage radiation microscopy measurements. Our proposed scheme with implemented functionalities could promote potential applications in high density integrated optical circuits. ? 2014 Optical Society of America