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Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
Surface plasmon polarization filtering in a single mode dielectric waveguide.
Optics Express
|June 6, 2009
Summary
Metallic electrodes near dielectric waveguides excite surface plasmons, enabling mode polarization. Perpendicular polarization extinguishes the mode, while parallel polarization causes attenuation, verified experimentally.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and optical engineering
- Plasmonics
- Waveguide technology
Background:
- Dielectric waveguides are fundamental in optical communication.
- Controlling light polarization within waveguides is crucial for device functionality.
- Surface plasmons offer unique light-matter interaction opportunities at the nanoscale.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the polarization control of guided modes using metallic electrodes.
- To explore the excitation of surface plasmons for mode manipulation.
- To analyze the impact of electrode geometry and spacing on waveguide transmission.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a single-mode dielectric waveguide with symmetrically placed metallic electrodes.
- Experimental measurement of optical transmission as a function of incident light polarization.
- Analysis of electrode spacing and its effect on surface plasmon excitation.
- Verification of phase-matching conditions for surface plasmon resonance.
Main Results:
- Resonant excitation of surface plasmons by modes polarized perpendicular to the metal surface, leading to mode extinction.
- Mode attenuation for light polarized parallel to the metal surface due to metal presence.
- Demonstration of effective mode polarization control via electrode configuration.
- Experimental validation of polarization-dependent insertion loss.
Conclusions:
- Metallic electrodes can act as effective polarizers for single-mode dielectric waveguides through surface plasmon excitation.
- The polarization state of light significantly influences its interaction with the metal-dielectric interface.
- This approach offers a pathway for developing novel integrated optical polarization components.
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