Design of a hybrid silicon-plasmonic co-propagant integrated coherent perfect absorber

Abstract: By a hybrid integration of plasmonic and dielectric waveguide concepts, it is shown that coherent perfect absorption can be achieved in a co-propagant coupler geometry. The device holds promises for classical and quantum signal processing. First, the operating principle of the proposed device is detailed in the context of a more general 2x2 lossy coupler formalism. Then, it is shown how to tune the device in a wide region of possible working points, its broadband operation, and the tolerance to fabrication uncertainties. Finally, a complete picture of the electromagnetic modes inside the hybrid structure is analyzed, shining light onto the potentials which the proposed device holds in view of other applications like nonlinear optics, polarization control, and sensing.