Abstract
For integrating ad multiplexing of subwavelength plasmonic waveguides with other optical and electric components, complex architectures such as junctions with sharp turns are necessary. However, in addition to intrinsic losses, bending losses severely limit plasmon propagation. In the current work, we demonstrate that propagation of surface plasmon polaritons around 90 degrees turns in silver nanoparticle chains occurs without bending.,g losses. Using a far-field fluorescence method, bleach-imaged plasmon propagation (BlIPP), which creates a Permanent map of the plasmonic near-field through bleaching of a fluorophore coated on top of a plasmonic waveguide, we; measured propagation lengths at 633 nm for straight and befit silver nanoparticle chains of 8.0 +/- 0.5 and 7.8 +/- 0.4 mu m, respectively. These propagation lengths were independent of the input polarization. We furthermore show that subradiant plasmon modes yield a longer propagation length compared to energy transport via excitation of super-radiant modes.