Mode properties of a coaxial multi-layer hybrid surface plasmon waveguide

Abstract

A novel type of coaxial circular multi-layer hybrid surface plasmonic waveguide is proposed and of which the mode properties are analyzed theoretically at the telecommunication wavelength of 1550 nm. Simulation results show that by tuning the size of the waveguide, the mode propagation properties could be effectively controlled to obtain enhanced mode confinement as well as weaker propagating loss. It is also found that the mode can be strongly localized in the middle low-index dielectric media layer with sub- or deep sub-wavelength scale. Further investigation proves that the mode propagation loss can be well compensated by replacing the high-index dielectric media with gain material to obtain longer propagation length with very tight mode confinement. The proposed hybrid structure can be used in nanophotonic waveguides, high-quality nanolasers, optical trapping, and biosensors.