Surface wave splitter based on metallic gratings with sub-wavelength aperture

We investigated the splitting of surface electromagnetic waves trapped at the output surface of a one-dimensional metallic grating structure. The output gratings of the structure asymmetrically such that the output surfaces at the different sides of the subwavelength aperture can support surface waves at different frequencies. The transmission amplitude as measured at the left side is 1,000 times of that at the right side at 16 GHz. At 24 GHz, the transmission measured at the right side is 20 times that of the left side of the structure. Therefore, surface waves are guided into the different sides of the aperture at different frequencies via metallic gratings. The experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical results. © 2008 Optical Society of America.