Curved space plasmonics

The propagation dynamics of quantum-mechanical and optical surface waves can be controlled by the curvature of the surface. Curvature-based effects have been observed in various systems such as electron wavefunctions in nanostructures and optical waves that are bound to curved thin dielectric guiding layers. The curvature of the surface acts as an effective potential that can alter the propagation dynamics of the surface waves. Such effects open up a new degree of freedom for controlling and manipulating surface waves, and in particular surface plasmons polaritons (SPPs), by curving the metal–dielectric boundary surface. SPPs are the coupled state of light and collective oscillations of free electrons at the metal–dielectric interface