| 摘要 |
PURPOSE: To generate a plasmon by forming a layered or stripped optical waveguide from a waveguide layer having a refraction factor step to the surroundings so as to reduce the difference between the propagation speed of TE mode polarization and the propagation speed of TM mode polarization inside the waveguide layer. CONSTITUTION: Concerning the layered or stripped optical waveguide provided with a waveguide layer 2 of a dielectric, a metal layer 3 is arranged proximately to the waveguide layer 2. Therefore, the propagation speed of a photon polarized in the TM mode among the photons polarized in the TE mode and TM mode so as to be propagated inside the waveguide layer 2 is decelerated by the metal layer 3. Thickness t3 of the metal layer 3 is selected thin so as to still propagate the photons polarized in the TE mode and TM mode inside the waveguide layer 2. On a metal boundary face, the surface plasmon existent only in the TM mode polarization can be propagated so that only one polarizing direction can be suitably affected by the metal layer and the propagation speed of plasmons can be mainly applied by the layer thickness of metal, the relative dielelctric constant of metal and the relative dielectric constant of the surrounding dielectric. |
