Open AccessAn integrated surface-plasmon source
Author(s) -
C. S. Kim,
I. Vurgaftman,
Richard A. Flynn,
M. Kim,
J. R. Lindle,
W. W. Bewley,
K. Bussmann,
J. R. Meyer,
James P. Long
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.010609
Subject(s) - optics , planar , surface plasmon , laser , waveguide , materials science , plasmon , coupling (piping) , optoelectronics , surface plasmon polariton , diode , semiconductor laser theory , physics , computer science , computer graphics (images) , metallurgy
A compact and versatile source of coherent surface-plasmon polaritions (SPPs) is demonstrated by end-coupling a laser diode operating at 1.46 microm to a plasmonic waveguide integrated on the same microchip. With an optimized overlap between the spatial-modes of the laser and a planar-stripe waveguide, a high coupling efficiency of approximately 36% is achieved, that computations show could approach approximately 60% with smaller, readily achievable gaps between laser and waveguide. This integrated and electrically-activated source, with an available SPP power limited only by the laser diode, appears ideally suited for directly driving plasmonic circuitry or surface-enhanced sensors.