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Published on: July 2, 2012
Silicon based plasmonic coupler
Roney Thomas1, Zoran Ikonic, R W Kelsall
1Institute of Microwave and Photonics, School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom. el07rt@leeds.ac.uk
Optics Express
|October 6, 2012
Summary
We developed a silicon-based plasmonic coupler for efficient light transfer from optical fibers to nanoscale waveguides. This device achieves high coupling efficiency and low loss, enabling practical silicon plasmonic devices.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Nanotechnology
- Optoelectronics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Plasmonics enables nanoscale control of light-matter interactions.
- Efficient light coupling into silicon plasmonic waveguides is crucial for device realization.
- Existing methods often lack efficiency or require complex fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and optimize a silicon-based plasmonic coupler for efficient light coupling.
- To develop a transfer matrix model for analyzing coupler performance.
- To explore the application of the coupler as a beam splitter.
Main Methods:
- Finite element simulations were used to optimize coupler structural parameters.
- A transfer matrix model was developed to analyze transmission performance.
- Simulations predicted coupling efficiency and insertion loss.
Main Results:
- A maximum coupling efficiency of 72% was predicted for light coupling into a 20 nm slit.
- An insertion loss of ≈ 2.0 dB was predicted for coupling into a 300 nm SOI waveguide.
- The coupler demonstrated potential as a splitter with ≈ 37% efficiency per waveguide.
Conclusions:
- The optimized silicon-based plasmonic coupler offers efficient light confinement and coupling.
- The developed transfer matrix model aids in performance analysis.
- The coupler shows promise for integrated silicon photonics and optical signal splitting.
