Genetic Algorithm Based Geometry Optimization of Terahertz Plasmonic Modulator Antennas

Plasmonic modulator antennas with high field enhancement values are essential to detect weak fields at high speeds in future communication systems. Consequently, such antennas with high field enhancement values at frequencies reaching up to 500 GHz are rising interest in the research. These antenna systems enable direct mapping of electromagnetic waves onto the optical signals. Thereby, they eliminate the radio frequency (RF) losses that are introduced by the conventional RF to optical conversion systems. The high field enhancement values over a broad frequency bandwidth at millimeter-wave frequencies enable efficient, robust, and accurate operation. The geometry of the antenna, as well as the dimensions of the geometric parameters, determine the field enhancement response with respect to frequency. In this work, we have optimized the geometry and design of the plasmonic modulator antenna by means of a genetic algorithm and have presented promising results.