Partial loss compensation in dielectric-loaded plasmonic waveguides at near infra-red wavelengths

摘要

We report on the fabrication and characterization of straight dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polaritons waveguides doped with lead-sulfide quantum dots as a near infra-red gain medium. A loss compensation of ~33% (an optical gain of ~143 cm^−1) was observed in the guided mode. The mode propagation, coupling efficiency and stimulated emission were characterized using leakage-radiation microscopy. The guided mode signature was separated using spatial filters in the Fourier plane of the microscope for quantitative measurements of stimulated emission.