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Determination of the Excitation and Coupling Rates Between Light Emitters and Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Published on: July 21, 2018
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Polarization-selective coupling to long-range surface plasmon polariton waveguides.
J P Balthasar Mueller1, Kristjan Leosson, Federico Capasso
1School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
Nano Letters
|August 26, 2014
Summary
We developed plasmonic antenna arrays for polarization-selective optical fiber coupling to surface plasmon polariton waveguides. These arrays enable controlled switching and unidirectional light propagation with high efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Plasmonics
- Optical Engineering
Background:
- Surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waveguides offer nanoscale light confinement.
- Efficiently coupling light from optical fibers to SPP modes, especially with polarization control, remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate polarization-selective coupling from optical fibers to long-range SPP waveguide modes.
- To utilize plasmonic antenna arrays for precise control over light polarization and propagation direction.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of plasmonic antenna arrays.
- Characterization of polarization-selective coupling using optical fibers.
- Analysis of device performance using Stokes vector formalism.
Main Results:
- Achieved polarization-selective coupling to counter-propagating SPP modes.
- Demonstrated polarization-controlled switching with extinction ratios exceeding 30 dB.
- Observed coupling efficiencies comparable to conventional grating couplers.
Conclusions:
- Plasmonic antenna arrays provide an effective method for polarization-selective fiber-to-SPP coupling.
- The developed formalism simplifies the understanding and design of such polarization-sensitive devices.
- This technology enables advanced functionalities like unidirectional light propagation in plasmonic circuits.
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