Optical Detection in a Waveguide Geometry with a Single Metallic Contact

Abstract

A single metallic contact attached to an optical waveguide is used to electrically detect near-infrared guided light through an optical waveguide. The device has a metal–insulator–metal structure, where the difference in the number of excited hot carriers in the top and bottom metallic layers can generate a photocurrent. The simple, compact structure of the device allows it to be integrated with any type of optical waveguide to monitor the guided light.