Gain-assisted propagation in a plasmonic waveguide at telecom wavelength

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Nanotechnology
• Optoelectronics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) enable optical confinement for advanced interconnects.
• Increasing SPP confinement amplifies mode losses, hindering practical applications.
• Nanocrystal-doped waveguides offer potential for loss compensation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate stimulated emission as a method to overcome propagation losses in confined plasmonic waveguides.
• To demonstrate enhanced propagation length in a polymer strip-loaded plasmonic waveguide.
• To explore the potential for integrated plasmonic amplifiers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a polymer strip-loaded plasmonic waveguide.
• Doping the waveguide with optically active nanocrystals.
• Characterization of propagation length and optical gain at telecom wavelengths.
• Utilizing stimulated emission to counteract propagation losses.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 27% increase in propagation length at telecom wavelengths.
• Measured an optical gain coefficient of 160 cm⁻¹.
• Demonstrated loss compensation through stimulated emission in the plasmonic waveguide.

Conclusions:

• Stimulated emission effectively enhances propagation in confined plasmonic waveguides.
• The developed configuration represents a significant advancement toward integrated plasmonic amplifiers.
• This approach offers a viable strategy for overcoming loss limitations in nanoscale optical interconnects.