Plasmonic couplers with metal nonlinearities

Usually nonlinear response of metals is neglected in the study of plasmonic waveguiding structures. Recent prediction of strong third-order optical response of metals due to ponderomotive forces opens up novel possibilities for utilizing this effect in the design of active plasmonic devices. We discuss the possibility of implementation of nonlinear response of metals in the design of plasmonic coupler. We analyze the structure and dispersions of linear and nonlinear guided plasmonic modes of two coupled thin metallic films and predict bifurcations of symmetry breaking.

► Linear and nonlinear plasmonic couplers are analyzed.
► We assume nonlinear action due to ponderomotive forces in metals.
► Power dependent dispersion of nonlinear modes is addressed.
► Symmetry breaking bifurcation is predicted.