Title :
Surface plasmon polaritons in thin metal films and their role in fiber optic polarizing devices
Author :
Johnstone, Walter ; Stewart, G. ; Hart, T. ; Culshaw, B.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Electron. Eng., Strathclyde Univ., Glasgow, UK
fDate :
4/1/1990 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The polarization-selective evanescent field coupling of an optical wave in a 1.3-μm, fiber to surface, plasmon polaritons supported by a thin aluminium film was investigated theoretically and experimentally. Good agreement was observed between the theoretically predicted conditions for efficient coupling and the experimentally determined conditions for high TM/TE extinction ratio of the optical field. The use of silver and chrome in place of aluminum was investigated experimentally at 1.3 μm, and 0.63-μm devices using aluminium were also studied. The results led to the realization of readily manufacturable, high-extinction-ratio (>50 dB) low-loss (<0.5 dB) fiber optic polarizers and polarizing couplers in standard and highly birefringent fiber
Keywords :
aluminium; birefringence; chromium; fibre optics; metallic thin films; optical losses; optical polarisers; polaritons; silver; surface plasmons; 0.63 micron; 1.3 micron; Ag; Al thin film; Cr; TM/TE extinction ratio; efficient coupling; fiber optic polarizers; fiber optic polarizing devices; fibre optic polarising couplers; high-extinction-ratio; highly birefringent fiber; low-loss; optical field; optical wave; polarization-selective evanescent field coupling; standard birefringence fibres; surface plasmon polaritons; thin metal films; Aluminum; Extinction ratio; Optical coupling; Optical fiber couplers; Optical fiber polarization; Optical films; Optical surface waves; Plasmons; Surface waves; Tellurium;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
