An on-chip hybrid plasmonic light steering concentrator with ∼96% coupling efficiency. Issue 11 (20th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Tian; Wang, Maoning; Yang, Yong; Fan, Fei; Lee, Takhee; Liu, Haitao; Xiang, Dong
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 10:Issue 11(2018)
• Page Start: 5097
• Page End: 5104
• Publication Date: 2018-02-20
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/c8nr00213d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : TE-polarized light was used to excite on-chip surface plasmon polaritons to achieve both steering and nanofocusing function. Abstract : We, for the first time, propose and theoretically study a plasmonic light steering concentrator (PLSC) that is based on a hybrid photonic–plasmonic sandwich structure. In this device, a transverse electric (TE) polarization guided mode supported by a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguide is vertically coupled to a metal–dielectric–metal sandwich structure, while the structure steers the light to a perpendicular metal taper and focuses the light on the apex of the taper with a small radius of 15 nm. Based on the coupled-mode theory, the two supermodes (quasi-TM modes) are clarified to illustrate the coupling mechanism of the device. We numerically obtain over 96% coupling efficiency at the 1500 nm telecommunication wavelength, and the mode width supported by the apex is limited laterally within the range of ∼110 nm, where the field enhancement calculated is found to be more than 10 7 compared to that of light in the silicon waveguide.