LAUSR

We present a theoretical feasibility study of the use of reflection grating couplers in order to harness the Surface Plasmon Polariton (SPP) to increase the absorption efficiency in the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectral range of a novel SWIR to visible (VIS) direct up-conversion imaging device. This device detects the SWIR spectral band photons using high absorption PbSe/CdSe core-shell, PbS nano-spheres or PbSe nano-columns. In order to further enhance the absorption of the SWIR light within the nano-structure layer we propose to add another light absorption enhancement, known as SPP enhanced absorption. The idea is to cover the absorber layer surface with a structured metal layer that will ignite SPPs on the metal – dielectric interface, by coupling between the incident TM polarized photons and the SPP modes; this results in better field confinement at the interface that will further increase the SWIR absorption of this thin layer. Calculation of the field profile of the surface plasmon (SP) in ...