Improved nonlinear slot waveguides using dielectric buffer layers: properties of TM waves.

Abstract

We propose an improved version of the symmetric metal slot waveguides with a Kerr-type nonlinear dielectric core adding linear dielectric buffer layers between the metal regions and the core. Using a finite element method to compute the stationary nonlinear modes, we provide the full phase diagrams of its main transverse magnetic modes as a function of the total power, buffer layer, and core thicknesses that are more complex than the ones of the simple nonlinear metal slot. We show that these modes can exhibit spatial transitions toward specific modes of the new structure as a function of power. We also demonstrate that, for the main modes, the losses are reduced compared to the previous structures, and that they can now decrease with power. Finally, we describe the stability properties of the main stationary solutions using nonlinear FDTD simulations.