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Lasing in metal-insulator-metal sub-wavelength plasmonic waveguides

Optics Express · 2009 · Vol. 17(13) · pp. 11107–11107

Martin T. Hill✉(Eindhoven University of Technology)Milan J. H. Marell(Eindhoven University of Technology)Eunice S. P. LeongBarry Smalbrugge(Eindhoven University of Technology)Youcai Zhu(Eindhoven University of Technology)Minghua SunPeter J. van Veldhoven(Eindhoven University of Technology)Erik Jan Geluk(Eindhoven University of Technology)F. Karouta(Eindhoven University of Technology)Yok-Siang Oei(Eindhoven University of Technology)R. Nötzel(Eindhoven University of Technology)Cun‐Zheng NingM.K. Smit(Eindhoven University of Technology)

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Abstract

We demonstrate lasing in Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) waveguides filled with electrically pumped semiconductor cores, with core width dimensions below the diffraction limit. Furthermore these waveguides propagate a transverse magnetic (TM0) or so called gap plasmon mode [1-4]. Hence we show that losses in sub-wavelength MIM waveguides can be overcome to create small plasmon mode lasers at wavelengths near 1500 nm. We also give results showing room temperature lasing in MIM waveguides, with approximately 310 nm wide semiconductor cores which propagate a transverse electric mode.

Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research Photonic and Optical Devices Optical Coatings and GratingsLasing thresholdPlasmonMaterials scienceOpticsOptoelectronicsWavelengthLaserSurface plasmonSemiconductor laser theorySemiconductor