Optical Properties of a Y-Splitter Based on Hybrid Multilayer Plasmonic Waveguide

A Y-splitter based on hybrid multilayer plasmonic waveguide structure composed of silver–silica–silicon–silica–silver is introduced. Properties, such as the transmission rate and split ratio, are numerically investigated by changing the thickness of dielectric layers, bending radii of the bending parts, as well as input working wavelength. Results indicate that the proposed structure can have high transmission rates of >47% at the two output branches with split ratio close to 1:1. When the symmetry of the structure is broken by adjusting the bending radii of the bending parts, one may control the transmission rate of the two different output branches and then control the split ratio for a given working wavelength to a certain degree. Comparison reveals that the proposed Y-splitter is superior to the T-splitter within the wavelength range of 1000–1600 nm. These properties are helpful in the design and application of photonic devices and integration.