Surface plasmon-polariton fiber-optic polarizers using thin chromium films

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Abstract
High-quality optical fiber polarizers have been fabricated by depositing thin chromium films thermally onto polished fibers. Surface plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves which are supported by the thin chromium films are optically excited by evanescent field interaction with the propagating fundamental fiber mode and utilized as the polarization selective mechanism. Transverse-magnetic-like polarized light is extinguished when precise phase-matching conditions with the symmetric-bound SPP mode are achieved. The transverse-electric-like polarization, on the other hand, passes through with minimal losses. Devices with polarization extinction ratio in excess of 50 dB and insertion losses less than 1 dB are demonstrated.