Polymer-based surface-plasmon-polariton stripe waveguides at telecommunication wavelengths

Long-range surface-plasmon-polariton (LR-SPP) waveguiding along thin gold stripes embedded in polymer is investigated in the wavelength range of 1510-1620 nm. LR-SPP intensity distributions at the output are measured for different stripe widths and thicknesses. Coupling loss of similar to0.5 dB is achieved when exciting the fundamental LR-SPP mode along 10-nm-thick stripes of 6-10 mum width with a polarization maintaining fiber. LR-SPP propagation loss of 6-8 dB/cm is estimated (at 1550 nm) and attributed to scattering from inhomogeneities of the metal stripe and polymer cladding. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.