Nano-scale multifunctional logic gate based on graphene/hexagonal boron nitride plasmonic waveguides

• Published in: IET optoelectronics 2020-02, Vol.14 (1), p.37-43
• Main Authors: Rezaei, Mir Hamid, Boroumandi, Rahim, Zarifkar, Abbas, Farmani, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AND; boron compounds; C-BN; dispersion properties; electrical field; electro-optical properties; graphene; graphene/hexagonal boron nitride plasmonic waveguides; integrated optics; integrated photonic circuits; logical operations; metamaterial; multifunctional structure; nano-scale multifunctional logic gate; nano-scale practical on-chip applications; nanophotonics; optical logic; optical metamaterials; optical storage; optical waveguides; plasmonic memory devices; Research Article; surface plasmons; wavelength 7.5 mum; XOR
• ISSN: 1751-8768; 1751-8776; 1751-8776
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-opt.2019.0054

The concept and analysis of a nano-scale multifunctional logic gate based on graphene/hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) plasmonic waveguides at a wavelength of 7.5 µm are presented. By using graphene as a metamaterial with outstanding electro-optical properties, various logical operations including AND, OR, and XOR are implemented. The proposed multifunctional structure supports surface plasmons (SPs) whose dispersion properties can be controlled by applying an electrical field to graphene. The effects of the incident polarisation and the substrate of graphene on the transmission of SPs are investigated. Simulations by finite difference time domain method show that the extinction ratios for the presented logical operations are higher than 15 dB. Also, the structure has a compact footprint of 1.12 µm2 which is suitable for using in integrated photonic circuits. This provides a path for the development of novel nano-scale practical on-chip applications such as plasmonic memory devices.