Waveguide-Plasmon Polaritons Enhance Transverse Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect

Abstract

Properties of light propagating in some materials can be influenced by a static magnetic field. Such magneto-optical effects are useful, but their strength is limited traditionally by the materials used. Scientists demonstrate that a hybrid structure of a magneto-optical photonic waveguide with plasmonic (gold) nanowires significantly boosts an important effect, the so-called transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect, through resonant interaction between the waveguide photons and the plasmons.