Theoretical Investigation of Loss-Compensating Hybrid Waveguide Using Quasi-One-Dimensional Surface Plasmon for Green Nanolaser

We report the theoretical investigation of an electrically injected plasmonic nanolaser in visible regime. The green nanolaser is based on a hybrid waveguide which employs semiconductor nanowire gain medium to compensate the loss in metallic cavity. Two-dimensional sub-wavelength confinements (mode area about lambda (2)/100) and net modal gain are simultaneously achieved for quasi-one-dimensional surface plasmon mode supported in such waveguide. The device structure is further optimized for room temperature operation with achievable injected current density about several kilo ampere/square centimetres (kA/cm(2)). The approach is also beneficial to developing other nanophotonic devices on sub-wavelength scale.National Natural Science Foundation of China [61076013, 60990313]; National Basic Research Program of China [2012CB619304]SCI(E)ARTICLEhuxd@pku.edu.cn1159-1651