Surface plasmon-polariton fiber-optical polarizers using thin-nickel films

High-quality optical fiber polarizers fabricated by depositing thin nickel films on polished fibers are discussed. The polarization extinction is achieved by efficiently exciting TM-polarized surface plasmon-polariton waves, which are supported by the nickel films, by means of evanescent field interaction with the propagating fundamental fiber mode. TM-like polarized light is efficiently coupled and extinguished when precise phase matching conditions are achieved. The TE-like polarization, on the other hand, passes through with minimal losses. Devices with polarization extinction ratio in excess of 55 dB and insertion losses less than 1 dB have been demonstrated.>