Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with integrated excitation of surface plasmon polariton modes

We report the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on a thin Au layer integrated on top of the mirror of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) along with their subsequent extraction to air. Gratings etched into the Au layer are used to couple the light in to and out of the metal film. The polarization properties of the optical emission from out-coupling gratings placed 5 μm away from the central optical aperture are used to confirm the coupling of the VCSEL light into and out of the SPP modes. The result paves the way to compact integrated plasmonic devices.