PLASMON WAVEGUIDE AND OPTICAL ELEMENT USING THE SAME

摘要

Disclosed is a plasmon waveguide comprising cladding (2) comprised of metal, and a dielectric core (3) which comprises a transparent material, is surrounded by or sandwiched by the cladding (2), and has at least one cross-section having a thickness no more than the wavelength of the incident light. The plasmon waveguide is provided with: a incident-side plasmon waveguide (4) into which light (L) is incident; an emission-side plasmon waveguide (5) from which light (L) is emitted; a connection area (6) which connects the incident-side plasmon waveguide (4) and the emission-side plasmon waveguide (5); and a plasmon interference structure (7) which extends from the connection area (6) in a direction that intersects the incident-side plasmon waveguide (4) or the emission-side plasmon waveguide (5), and has a terminal area (7a) at which light (L) reflects.