Theoretical and computational study of the effects of the complex chirality parameter in chiral-coated planar waveguides

Abstract

A theoretical and computational study of the effects of the real and imaginary parts of the complex chirality parameter on the characteristics of light propagation in planar waveguides is presented. Symmetric and asymmetric structures using complex chiral media in the cladding region are analyzed. The guided modes are hybrid modes due to coupling between electric and magnetic fields in the chiral medium. Changes in the chirality parameter in magnitude and handedness produce changes in the dispersion curves and electromagnetic fields of the guided modes. The characteristics of the guided modes are evidenced in simulations of the transmission and absorption spectra of the structures. The results obtained indicate that the light propagation characteristics of these structures could be used to design and fabricate novel photonic devices.