A Multi-Parameter Tunable and Compact Plasmon Modulator in the Near-Infrared Spectrum

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors introduce a multi-parameter tunable plasmon modulator. The device is quite effective in the field optical communication, sensor, and photo-detecton. I believe that the obtained results justify publication of the paper in Photonics. Below are my comments and minor suggestions regarding the presentation.

1. The description on line 128 that the electron concentration is 7.5*10^26 m^(-3), but 9.5*10^26 m^(-3) seems to be correct. The authors need to be correct.

2. There are two (b) in Fig. 3. The authors need to be correct.

3. The title of chapter 3 is included at the end of the caption for Fig. 3. The authors need to be correct.

4. The authors explain why these phenomenon occur when the refractive index of ITO changes. However, the readership of this paper would like to know the reason in more detail. Therefor, the authors need to add a more detailed explanation.

Author Response

Thank you for all constructive suggestions. We have revised the manuscript according to these helpful suggestions.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript ID photonics-3006407 mainly presents a numerical study about a particular tunable infrared modulator assisted by plasmonic effects. Please see below some points to the authors:

1. The advantages and disadvantages of the plasmon modulator presented must be described with better details.
2. The main results related to the modulation performance of the system proposed should be confronted with updated publications in the topic.
3. The selection of the materials should be justified in respect to alternatives of other plasmonic materials.
4. The authors should state about the originality of this work taking into account their previous publication https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38799-y
5. Plasmon systems can modulate nonlinear effects that may improve the modulation performance of all-optical and optelectronic systems. The authors are invited to discuss this issue in their experiments and contrast with other advanced ITO-based materials. You can see for instance: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-10379-w
6. It is not clear how was selected the gold grating in the system and it should be indicated in figure 1. You can contrast for instance: https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.27.023576
7. The influence of the incident polarization over the main findings ought to be analyzed and please describe how was proposed the size of the system in order to see that the work is systematic instead of incidental.
8. The discussions and the presentation of the results should be improved and better presented to see the value of the main findings.
9. It is suggested to split the citations presented in collective form. This is in order to easily justify the importance of each reference selected for the presentation of the topic.
10. Figure 3a was not included.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

A proofreading is suggested

Author Response

Thank you for all constructive suggestions. We have revised the manuscript according to these helpful suggestions.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 The authors proposed a hybrid structure which can modulate the multi-parameter of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) simultaneously in the mid-infrared spectrum by controlling the electron concentration of indium tin oxide (ITO). The numerical results show that when the electron concentration in ITO changes from 7.5×10²⁶m^-3 to 9.5×10²⁶m^-3, the variation of amplitude, wavelength and phase are 49%, 300 nm and 347° respectively. The work have a promising application and the manusctipt is well written, i would recommend this paper if the following problems are addressed. 1) The authors mentioned “when the voltage applied between the sillicon and the ITO” in the figure 1, while the voltage is applied on the two silicon substrate, is this description right? 2) The “um ” is used in the Figure 4 and Figure 8, but it should be “μm”.

3) There are some language problems in the text. I suggest the authors find a native English speaker or ask professional editing service for content revision.

Author Response

Thank you for all constructive suggestions. We have revised the manuscript according to these helpful suggestions.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In my opinion, the reviewed version of the manuscript is unsatisfactory. Most of the points have been partially addressed and stronger analysis has been omitted to improve the impact of the work. My major concern is about the limited originality considering their previous publication https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38799-y . However, the following points can be also indicated:

*The advantages and disadvantages of the plasmon modulator were not analyzed with better details or supported

*The selection of the materials was not justified in respect to alternatives of other plasmonic materials.

*Discussions about systems with nonlinear effects were not solid.

*The discussions and the presentation of the results should be improved and better presented to see the value of the main findings.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

A proofreading is suggested

Author Response

Thank you for all constructive suggestions. We have revised the manuscript according to these helpful suggestions.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have improved the presentation of their work and I agree with the reviewed version of the manuscript. The presented results related to this plasmon modulator in the near-infrared spectrum can be useful for future research. Then I can recommend this work for publication in present form.