Group velocity measurement using spectral interference in near-field scanning optical microscopy

• Main Authors: Mills, John D. (Author), Chaipiboonwong, Tipsuda (Author), Brocklesby, William S. (Author), Charlton, Martin D.B (Author), Netti, Caterina (Author), Zoorob, Majd E. (Author), Baumberg, Jeremy J. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2006-07-31.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

Near-field scanning optical microscopy provides a tool for studying the behavior of optical fields inside waveguides. In this experiment the authors measure directly the variation of group velocity between different modes of a planar slab waveguide as the modes propagate along the guide. The measurement is made using the spectral interference between pulses propagating inside the waveguide with different group velocities, collected using a near-field scanning optical microscope at different points down the guide and spectrally resolved. The results are compared to models of group velocities in simple guides.