Multifunctional logic gates based on silicon hybrid plasmonic waveguides

Abstract

Nano-scale Multifunctional Logic Gates based on Si hybrid plasmonic waveguides (HPWGs) are designed by utilizing the multimode interference (MMI) effect. The proposed device is composed of three input waveguides, three output waveguides and an MMI waveguide. The functional size of the device is only 1000 nm × 3200 nm, which is much smaller than traditional Si-based all-optical logic gates. By setting different input signals and selecting suitable threshold value, OR, AND, XOR and NOT gates are achieved simultaneously or individually in a single device. This may provide a way for ultrahigh speed signal processing and future nanophotonic integrated circuits.