Numerical Analysis and Design of Dielectric to Plasmonic Waveguides Couplers

In this work, efficient directional coupler composed of
dielectric waveguides and metallic film has been analyzed in details
by simulations using finite element method (FEM). The structure
consists of a step-index fiber with dielectric core, silica cladding, and
a metal nanowire parallel to the core. The results show that an
efficient conversion of optical dielectric modes to long range
plasmonic is possible. Low insertion losses in conjunction with short
coupling length and a broadband operation can be achieved under
certain conditions. This kind of couplers has potential applications for
the design of photonic integrated circuits for signal routing between
dielectric/plasmonic waveguides, sensing, lithography, and optical
storage systems. A high efficient focusing of light in a very small
region can be obtained.

Authors:

• Emanuela Paranhos Lima
• Vitaly Félix Rodríguez Esquerre

Keywords:

• Directional coupler
• finite element method
• metallic nanowire
• plasmonic
• surface plasmon polariton.

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