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Surface plasmon polariton amplification upon electrical injection in highly integrated plasmonic circuits
Dmitry Yu Fedyanin1, Alexey V Krasavin, Aleksey V Arsenin
1Laboratory of Nanooptics and Femtosecond Electronics, Department of General Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), 9 Institutsky Lane, Dolgoprudny 141700, Russian Federation. feddu@mail.ru
Nano Letters
|March 28, 2012
Summary
We developed an efficient method to amplify surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) using electric pumping. This technique compensates for losses and achieves net gain in nanoscale waveguides, enabling high-speed plasmonic circuits.
Area of Science:
- Plasmonics
- Nanophotonics
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) are crucial for nanoscale light manipulation.
- Propagation losses limit the practical application of SPPs in devices.
- Strong mode confinement is essential for efficient light-matter interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and numerically demonstrate an efficient amplification scheme for SPPs.
- To achieve strong mode confinement (∼λ/10) in a nanoscale waveguide.
- To compensate for SPP propagation losses and achieve net gain.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of electric pumping using a single-heterostructure Schottky-barrier diode.
- Numerical simulations to analyze SPP propagation and amplification.
- Investigation of device performance at wavelengths around 3 μm.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of efficient SPP amplification in a nanoscale waveguide.
- Full compensation of SPP propagation losses achieved.
- Net SPP gain realized, with strong mode confinement (∼λ/10).
Conclusions:
- The proposed electric pumping scheme offers a pathway for loss compensation and gain in SPPs.
- Enables the development of highly integrated, high-speed hybrid electronic-plasmonic circuits.
- Paves the way for integrated coherent SPP sources.
