Efficient directional coupler based on plasmonic waveguide for photonic integrated circuits

Two asymmetric directional couplers, including the dielectric-hybrid plasmonic coupler and the dielectric-metal insulator-metal plasmonic coupler, are investigated. The proposed hybrid coupler features short coupling length, high coupling efficiency and can be integrated into the silicon based platform. The applications of these hybrid couplers include the signal routing between plasmonic waveguides and dielectric waveguides in photonic integrated circuits and efficient excitation of plasmonic modes with conventional dielectric modes. Besides, a symmetric directional coupler based on silver nanowires is also demonstrated.