Hybrid silicon-plasmonics: efficient waveguide interfacing for low-loss integrated switching components

Odysseas Tsilipakos; Alexandros Pitilakis; Emmanouil E. Kriezis

doi:10.1117/12.922298

1 May 2012 Hybrid silicon-plasmonics: efficient waveguide interfacing for low-loss integrated switching components

Odysseas Tsilipakos, Alexandros Pitilakis, Emmanouil E. Kriezis

Proceedings Volume 8424, Nanophotonics IV; 84241E (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922298
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2012, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

We present a thorough numerical investigation of end-fire coupling between dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polariton (DLSPP) and compact rib/wire silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides. Simulations are based on the three-dimensional vector finite element method. The interface geometrical parameters leading to optimum performance, i.e., maximum coupling efficiency or, equivalently, minimum insertion loss (IL), are identified. We show that coupling efficiencies as high as 85 % are possible. In addition, we quantify the fabrication tolerances about the optimum parameter values. In the same context, we assess the effect of a metallic stripe gap and that of a horizontal offset between waveguides on insertion loss. Finally, we demonstrate that by benefiting form the low-loss coupling between the two waveguides, hybrid silicon-plasmonic 2 x 2 thermo-optic switching elements can outperform their all-plasmonic counterparts in terms of IL. Specifically, we examine two hybrid SOI-DLSPP switching elements, namely, a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) and a Multi-Mode-Interference (MMI) switch. In particular, in the MZI case the IL improvement compared to the all-plasmonic counterpart is 4.5 dB. Moreover, the proposed hybrid components maintain the high extinction ratio, small footprint, and efficient tuning traits of plasmonic technology.

Citation Download Citation

Odysseas Tsilipakos, Alexandros Pitilakis, and Emmanouil E. Kriezis "Hybrid silicon-plasmonics: efficient waveguide interfacing for low-loss integrated switching components", Proc. SPIE 8424, Nanophotonics IV, 84241E (1 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922298

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
12 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Waveguides

Silicon

Switching

Brain-machine interfaces

Wave propagation

Plasmonics

Switches

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years