Efficient routing with magnetoplasmonic waveguides for PICs

Optical isolators play a pivotal role in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) by safeguarding lasers against reflections, ensuring their stability. Over time, diverse architectures rooted in various phenomena have been explored, yet many faced limitations like bulkiness, integration challenges, or restricted bandwidth. The emergence of magnetoplasmonics presents a promising tool for the next generation of optical isolators, offering efficiency and adaptability. In this study, a novel optical isolator design capitalizes on Metal-Dielectric-Metal (MDM) waveguides, employing a configuration where a Magneto-optic (MO) layer is sandwiched between two metal layers. Under external magnetization in a Transverse Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect (TMOKE) setup, the Long-Range Surface Plasmon Polariton (LRSPP) plasmonic mode becomes asymmetric in its intensity profile distribution, thus following different paths in the opposite senses of propagation. This innovative approach, inspired by magnetoplasmonics, showcases potential for enhanced optical isolation in future photonic systems.