Subwavelength Energy Transport Along a Dielectric Nanoparticle Chain in a Metal Slot

Subwavelength energy transportation along a dielectric nanoparticle chain in a metal slot is investigated. It is demonstrated that subwavelength resonance modes with nanoscale confinement could be well achieved in the proposed waveguide, free from the demanding requirement of an ultralarge dielectric constant for a traditional dielectric nanoparticle waveguide (DNPW). In addition, the proposed waveguide exhibits the lowest attenuation factor in visible region and near-infrared region when compared with its counterparts including a traditional DNPW, a metal nanoparticle waveguide without/in metal slot, and a metal slot. The proposed mechanism of energy transport in the nanoscale has potential application in broadband and long-distance subwavelength transmission lines for photonic integration circuits (PICs).