PLASMONIC FUNNEL FOR FOCUSED OPTICAL DELIVERY TO A METALLIC MEDIUM
An apparatus includes a transducer including a plasmonic funnel having first and second ends with the first end having a smaller cross-sectional area than the second end, and a first section positioned adjacent to the first end of the plasmonic funnel, and a first waveguide having a core, positioned to cause light in the core to excite surface plasmons on the transducer.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a transducer including a plasmonic funnel including first and second ends with the first end having a smaller cross-sectional area than the second end, and a first section positioned adjacent to the first end of the plasmonic funnel; and
a first waveguide having a core, positioned to cause light in the core to excite surface plasmons on the transducer.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first waveguide core is positioned adjacent to a side of the transducer such that light in the waveguide core is evanescently coupled to the transducer.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transducer further comprises:
a second section positioned adjacent to the second end of the plasmonic funnel.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein an end of the first waveguide core is positioned adjacent to an end the transducer such that light in the waveguide core is end fire coupled to the transducer.
5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second section includes first and second ends with the first end having a smaller cross-sectional area than the second end, with the second end being positioned adjacent to the second end of the plasmonic funnel.
6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a phase changing element positioned along a side of the second section.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the phase changing element comprises one of:
a stub, an indent, or a protrusion.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first waveguide comprises one of:
a channel waveguide, a solid immersion mirror, or a mode index lens.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:
a polarization rotator adjacent to the first waveguide.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the polarization rotator comprises one of:
first and second plasmonic stubs adjacent to diagonally opposite edges of the dielectric channel waveguide.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first magnetic pole positioned adjacent to a side of the first section of the transducer.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second magnetic pole; and
a plasmonic shield positioned between the second magnetic pole and the transducer.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a gap between the plasmonic shield and the transducer is filled with dielectric material.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
first and second plasmonic shields positioned adjacent to opposite sides of the first portion.
15 . An apparatus comprising:
a transducer including a plasmonic funnel including first and second ends with the first end being narrower than the second end, a first plasmonic waveguide positioned adjacent to the first end of the plasmonic funnel, and a second plasmonic waveguide positioned adjacent to the second end of the plasmonic funnel; and
a phase changing element positioned along a side of the second plasmonic waveguide.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the phase changing element comprises one of:
a stub, an indent, or a protrusion.
17 . An apparatus comprising:
a recording medium;
a recording head having a transducer including a plasmonic funnel having first and second ends with the first end having a smaller cross-sectional area than the second end, and a first section positioned adjacent to the first end of the plasmonic funnel, and a first waveguide having a core, positioned to cause light in the core to excite surface plasmons on the transducer; and
a positioning means for positioning the recording head adjacent to the storage medium.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein a portion of the first waveguide core is positioned adjacent to a side of the transducer such that light in the waveguide core is evanescently coupled to the transducer.
19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the transducer further comprises:
a second section positioned adjacent to the second end of the plasmonic funnel.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein an end of the first waveguide core is positioned adjacent to an end the transducer such that light in the waveguide core is end fire coupled to the transducer.