Abstract

We propose and numerically analyze a broadband, ultracompact hybrid plasmonic mode converter/polarization rotator. The proposed device converts the fundamental transverse magnetic mode (${{\rm TM}_0}$) to the first-order transverse electric mode (${{\rm TE}_1}$). The mode converter is designed using a tapered hybrid plasmonic waveguide in which metal parts are directly surrounding both the input Si waveguide and the tapered output waveguide without a thin low-index layer. After optimizing the proposed structure, a ${{\rm TM}_0}$-to-${{\rm TE}_1}$ mode converter with a modal conversion efficiency of 98.2% is achieved. A broad operating bandwidth of 100 nm is achieved with a compact footprint of only $0.8\,\,\unicode{x00B5}{\rm m} \times 12.5\,\,\unicode{x00B5}{\rm m}$ for the whole device. At a wavelength of 1550 nm, the insertion loss ranges from 0.91 dB to 1.19 dB using different metal materials, and the extinction ratio of the ${{\rm TE}_1}$ and ${{\rm TM}_0}$ modes is higher than 21 dB in the output Si waveguide.

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