Sinusoidal gold grating coupler on an asymmetric planar waveguide

The optical response of a thin gold sinusoidal grating on an asymmetric gallium aluminum nitride waveguide is modeled. The sinusoidal gold grating is modeled assuming p-polarized incident light which produces a surface plasma wave. The surface plasma mode is phase matched to a gallium aluminum nitride waveguide mode. Coupling via surface plasma wave generation should produce a greater enhancement than traditional dielectric grating couplers.