Near-field characterization of Bloch surface waves based 2D optical components

Bloch surface waves (BSWs) are surface electromagnetic modes that propagate at the interface between a multilayer substrate and a homogeneous external medium. The optical field of the surface mode is confined near the surface of the multilayer. This vertical confinement as well as the low absorption inherent to the dielectric materials make the BSWs an interesting candidate for the development of 2D optical systems and sensors. Such a periodic multilayer structure is introduced as a platform on which many optical functions can therefore be created. In this thesis, two-dimensional optical components based on the Bloch wave platform are studied, in particular: a disk resonator, a Bessel-like beam generator and a waveguide grating as a Bragg mirror engraved in a waveguide. The optical properties of the components such as the resonance inside the disc, the "quasi non-diffracting" behavior and the reflection properties are presented. The 2D optical components are designed from a commercial FDTD program (CST Microwave studio). They are then characterized by a near-field scanning microscope with multi-heterodyne detection (MH-SNOM). Thanks to the MH-SNOM, it is possible to map the field distribution locally at the surface of the structures with a resolution lower than the wavelength. Simultaneous measurement of amplitude and phase allows a detailed reconstruction of the complex amplitude of the electric field. In a first part, the influence of a device layer of material with a high refractive index (TiO2) is studied. The impact of the thickness of the TiO2 layer on the propagation properties of the BSWs is presented. It is demonstrated that by adapting the thickness of the device layer, the BSW dispersion curve position can be moved within the photonic band gap and consequently the BSW mode propagation properties can be adapted. The propagation properties of the BSWs include, for example, the propagation length and the effective refractive index. Thanks to the low losses and the design of our multilayer platform, propagation lengths in the range of millimeter are obtained. In a second part, 2D optical components fabricated in a 60 nm (wavelength/25) device layer of TiO2 are presented, and initially, disk resonators. The latter are key elements in integrated optics systems. For a disk with a radius of 100 µm, an experimental quality factor of the order of 10^3 is obtained. A 2D Bessel-like beam generator is also studied. An isosceles triangle is used to generate such a beams. The main expected property of Bessel-type beams is their "quasi non-diffracting" nature. The optical properties of non-diffracting beams are measured in the near-field for different base/height ratios of the isosceles triangle. It is demonstrated that the beam propagates without significant spreading for considerable propagation distance, approximately 50 µm. Finally, the gratings engraved in a waveguide are studied. It is demonstrated that they perform as a Bragg mirror at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Thanks to the MH-SNOM, the interference fringes between the incident wave and the reflected wave are measured. The experimental reflectivity is obtained from the contrast of the interference fringes. The presented waveguide grating can be used as a Bragg reflector at telecom wavelengths for 2D optics systems.