Integrable non-reciprocal optical component, optical isolator, optical circulator and integrated circuit

Abstract

An integrable, non-reciprocal optical component, with guidance, between two magneto-plasmonic interfaces each formed between a dielectric and a metal. An optical port and an input signal passes through a selection region providing a selected signal whose energy is concentrated in a single plasmonic mode, LRSPP or SRSPP, by a selection aperture of a width for which these modes have optical impedances that differ significantly from each other, one of which (z1eff) is close to, or equal to, the input optical impedance (z0eff). The selected signal passes through a differentiation region, which enhances the asymmetry between the two magneto-plasmonic interfaces, to concentrate its energy on a single magneto-plasmonic interface. The differentiated signal passes through a non-reciprocal treatment region formed by two magneto-plasmonic interfaces of non-equivalent geometries. The input signal will thus undergo different treatment from a reverse signal.