Thermo-optic plasmo-photonic mode interference switches based on dielectric loaded waveguides

摘要

We demonstrate an efficient thermo-optic dielectric loaded surface plasmon polariton waveguide (DLSPPW) 2×2 switch using a high thermo-optic coefficient polymer and a dual mode interference configuration. Unlike previous configurations relying on single-mode waveguide circuitry, the switch we consider is based on the interference between a plasmonic and a low-damping photonic mode of the DLSPPW, thus leading to the minimization of insertion losses of the device. Switching extinction ratios of 7dB are measured for a compact 119μm-long device. The overall device performances are in good agreement with numerical simulations performed using the beam propagation method.