Strong coupling of diffraction coupled plasmons and optical waveguide modes in gold stripe-dielectric nanostructures at telecom wavelengths.

We propose a hybrid plasmonic device consisting of a planar dielectric waveguide covering a gold nanostripe array fabricated on a gold film and investigate its guiding properties at telecom wavelengths. The fundamental modes of a hybrid device and their dependence on the key geometric parameters are studied. A communication length of 250 μm was achieved for both the TM and TE guided modes at telecom wavelengths. Due to the difference between the TM and TE light propagation associated with the diffractive plasmon excitation, our waveguides provide polarization separation. Our results suggest a practical way of fabricating metal-nanostripes-dielectric waveguides that can be used as essential elements in optoelectronic circuits.