Design of an integrated coupler for the electrical generation of surface plasmon polaritons

Recently a surface plasmon polariton (SPP) source based on an electrically operated semiconductor laser has been demonstrated. Here we present a numerical investigation of the light-SPP coupling process involved in the device. The problem consists in the coupling via a diffraction grating between a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics express 2011-09, Vol.19 (19), p.18155-18163
Main Authors: Tetienne, J-P, Bousseksou, A, Costantini, D, De Wilde, Y, Colombelli, R
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Recently a surface plasmon polariton (SPP) source based on an electrically operated semiconductor laser has been demonstrated. Here we present a numerical investigation of the light-SPP coupling process involved in the device. The problem consists in the coupling via a diffraction grating between a dielectric waveguide mode--the laser mode--and a SPP mode. The issue of the coupling efficiency is discussed, and the dependence on various geometrical parameters of both the grating and the dielectric waveguide is studied in detail. A maximum coupling efficiency of ≈24% is obtained at telecom wavelengths, which could lead to a high-power integrated SPP source when combined to a laser medium.
ISSN:1094-4087
1094-4087
DOI:10.1364/oe.19.018155