Research: Active devices based on surface plasmons (NSERC)

This research program is devoted to the study of active optical devices based on metal stripe waveguides. Such waveguides support a low-loss optical wave, termed a long-range surface plasmon-polariton (LRSPP) wave. The main objective of this proposal is to research amplifiers, lasers and photodetectors, operating in this wave and implemented in metal stripe waveguides. Specific objectives are to: (a) demonstrate net amplification and lasing; (b) design, fabricate and demonstrate tunable 1st order Bragg gratings; (c) design, fabricate and demonstrate a tunable surface plasmon laser; and (d) design, fabricate and demonstrate Schottky contact detectors on silicon. Theoretical models will be developed for all of the devices, based on first principles, resting on electromagnetics and quantum optics. Experiments will be defined and conducted to verify and validate all models. Custom devices will be fabricated for this purpose, and to demonstrate the proposed structures and underlying phenomena. The scientific approach thus comprises a mix of theory and experiment appropriate to meeting the objectives.