Kerr nonlinear effect in the graphene-based wedged hybrid plasmonic waveguide

Abstract

The plasmonic nanostructures optical properties, both linear and nonlinear, offer valuable insights for designing nanoscale all-optical devices with rapid response times. This study proposes a novel plasmonic structure, which includes graphene, for developing a wedge hybrid plasmonic waveguide for Kerr nonlinear applications. The behavior of this structure was simulated using the finite element method, and the results indicate that increasing the chemical potential in graphene from μ = 0.1 to 0.45 eV causes the Kerr nonlinear figure of merit curve to move upwards. The wedge-shaped hybrid plasmonic waveguide, which includes graphene, produces comparable results to the conventional wedge-shaped hybrid plasmonic waveguide. With the appropriate values of the graphene sheet Fermi level (i.e. μ=0.45 eV), the maximum nonlinear coefficient of 2.68×107 W-1Km-1, Kerr nonlinear figure of merit FoM = 0.029, and minimum effective mode area of Aeff = 0.052 μm2 can be achieved. Thus, changing the chemical potential in graphene can be utilized to manipulate the Kerr nonlinear performance of plasmonic waveguides.