Evolution of polarization singularities accompanied by avoided crossing in plasmonic system

Abstract

The evolution of polarization singularities supported in a one-dimensional periodic plasmonic system is studied. The lateral inversion symmetry of the system, which breaks the in-plane inversion symmetry and up-down mirror symmetry simultaneously, yields abundant polarization states. A complete evolution process with geometry for the polarization states is traced. In the evolution, circularly polarized points (C points) can stem from 3 different processes. In addition to the previously reported processes occurring in an isolated band, a new type of C point appearing in two bands simultaneously due to the avoided band crossing, is observed. Unlike the dielectric system with a similar structure which only supports at-Γ bound states in the continuum (BICs), accidental BICs off the Γ point are realized in this plasmonic system. This work provides a new scheme of polarization manipulation for the plasmonic systems.