Excitation of multiple surface plasmon-polaritons by a metal layer inserted in an equichiral sculptured thin film

Abstract: Excitation of multiple surface plasmon-polaritons(SPPs) by an equichiral sculptured thin film with a metal layer defect was studied theoretically in the Sarid configuration, using the transfer matrix method. Multiple SPP modes were distinguished from waveguide modes in optical absorption for p- polarized plane wave. The degree of localization of multiple SPP waves was investigated by calculation of the time averaged Poynting vector. The results showed that the long-range and short-range SPP waves can simultaneously be excited at both interfaces of metal core in this proposed structure which may be used in a broad range of sensing applications.