Toward application of plasmonic waveguides to optical devices

Abstract

The size of a plasmonic waveguide is not limited by the optical wavelength. This enables plasmonic waveguides on the order of several tens of nanometers in length, which is not possible with dielectric waveguides, and exceptionally strong light confinement and efficient interaction with nanomaterials that have various unique properties become possible. However, such waveguides are not easily introduced in optical integrated circuits, so a three-dimensional plasmonic mode converter is required.