title: Compact plasmonic variable optical attenuator.
abstract: We demonstrate plasmonic nanowire-based thermo-optic variable optical attenuators operating in the 1525-1625 nm wavelength range. The devices have a footprint as low as 1 mm, extinction ratio exceeding 40 dB, driving voltage below 3 V, and full modulation bandwidth of 1 kHz. The polarization dependent loss is shown to be critically dependent on the nanowire geometry but devices with polarization-dependent loss as low as +/-2.5 dB PDL over most of the attenuation range have been fabricated. We propose an even more compact device design to reduce insertion loss to approximately 1 dB.
authors.affiliation: Science Institute, University of Iceland, Dunhagi 3, IS-107 Reykjavik, Iceland. kleos@hi.is
authors.forename: Kristjan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leosson
authors.forename: Tiberiu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosenzveig
authors.forename: Petur G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hermannsson
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boltasseva
mesh_terms: D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005898:Glass; D008670:Metals; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry*; D016011:Normal Distribution; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D011108:Polymers