INTERFACE PLASMON POLARITON WAVEGUIDE

摘要

The present invention is a waveguide structure that facilitates guiding of IPPs and a method of IPP mode-matching. The structure of the waveguide of the present invention, and its channels in particular, may be lithographically defined to confine IPPs in both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarized modes. These two IPP modes may be compared to achieve mode-matching. The IPP waveguide may incorporate a U-shaped channel that may be larger than channels utilized in prior art waveguides, so as to accommodate IPPs. IPPs may be guided at each interface and may be mostly decoupled. As a result the IPPs may have larger propagation distances than known prior art, such as, for example a millimeter. Reactive ion etching may be utilized to control the cross-section shape of the channel to extend the interaction region and improve sensitivity for sensing applications that the waveguide may utilized to achieve. The waveguide of the present invention may both guide electromagnetic waves and channel analyte material.