Plasmonic nanostructures on curved surfaces for fiber-based sensors

Plasmonic devices on a curved surface can open exciting new possibilities for guiding, focusing, deflecting, and controlling the propagation of plasmonic waves. Propagation on curved surfaces can be designed to mimic optical fiber-based plasmonic devices, for example, advanced optical probes for biological sensing applications. However, there is limited progress in this field due to technological limitations especially the fabrication of subwavelength structures on curved substrates is quite challenging. In this paper, we discuss the perspectives and challenges that lie in the design and simulation of plasmonic devices with a special focus on curvature induced effects and implications. We present numerical studies of gold films on a curved surface that resemble a fiber-based sensor. The results from this study can be helpful in the analysis and design of plasmonic devices involving optical fiber and other flexible substrates.