Large scalable and compact hybrid plasmonic nanoantenna array

Abstract

We propose a scheme for a large scalable and compact antenna array with subwavelength antenna spacing. In this scheme, the array consists of a series of hybrid plasmonic nanoantennas, which operate at 1550 nm and have a subwavelength footprint. In a wide bandwidth, the nanoantenna is highly compatible with a low-loss silicon waveguide, which feeds light from the bottom of the nanoantenna. Based on the proposed nanoantenna, two silicon photonic antenna arrays (1 × 8 and 8 × 8) are designed and investigated in detail. Both the one- and two-dimensional arrays can realize wide steering without grating lobes. For the 8 × 8 array, a high gain of 24.2 dB and wide steering range of 88.0 deg × 90.0 deg are achieved.