title: Plasmonic distributed feedback lasers at telecommunications wavelengths.
abstract: We investigate electrically pumped, distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, based on gap-plasmon mode metallic waveguides. The waveguides have nano-scale widths below the diffraction limit and incorporate vertical groove Bragg gratings. These metallic Bragg gratings provide a broad bandwidth stop band (~500 nm) with grating coupling coefficients of over 5000/cm. A strong suppression of spontaneous emission occurs in these Bragg grating cavities, over the stop band frequencies. This strong suppression manifests itself in our experimental results as a near absence of spontaneous emission and significantly reduced lasing thresholds when compared to similar length Fabry-Pérot waveguide cavities. Furthermore, the reduced threshold pumping requirements permits us to show strong line narrowing and super linear light current curves for these plasmon mode devices even at room temperature.
authors.affiliation: Dept Electrical Engineering, Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Postbus 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Milan J H
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Marell
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smalbrugge
authors.forename: Erik Jan
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Geluk
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van Veldhoven
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barcones
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nötzel
authors.forename: Meint K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Martin T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hill