TE photonic modes in metal-insulator-metal structures

The propagation characteristics of TE photonic modes in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguides are investigated. These modes show better confinement and low propagation losses as compared to TM plasmonic modes at shorter wavelengths and at certain core thicknesses. The dielectric to MIM coupler and MIM directional couplers with 90° bends are considered. The coupling efficiency for dielectric to MIM waveguides was found to be ~68% at 532 nm wavelength. MIM power splitters with different power ratios at output ports are also studied. The numerical analysis is performed using a two dimensional finite-difference-time-domain method.