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Fabrication And Characterization Of Photonic Crystal Slow Light Waveguides And Cavities
Published on: November 30, 2012
Planar photonic crystal polarization splitter.
Lijun Wu1, M Mazilu, J F Gallet
1Ultrafast Photonics Collaboration, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK. phljwu@ust.hk
Optics Letters
|August 18, 2004
Summary
Researchers demonstrated a novel polarization splitter using planar photonic crystals. This device effectively separates light beams based on polarization in the near-infrared range, operating in transmission mode.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Optical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Planar photonic crystals offer unique light manipulation capabilities.
- Controlling polarization-dependent light propagation is crucial for optical devices.
- Existing methods for polarization splitting may have limitations in specific wavelength ranges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a polarization splitter using planar photonic crystals.
- To investigate the polarization-dependent propagation of light in these structures.
- To achieve polarization splitting in the near-infrared wavelength range via transmission mode.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the differential dispersion relation for E (TM-like) and H (TE-like) modes.
- Fabricated and tested a 20-micrometer-long planar photonic crystal.
- Employed plane-wave expansion calculations for theoretical validation.
Main Results:
- Achieved separation of E- and H-polarized beams by 10 degrees.
- Observed this effect within the 1250-1300 nm wavelength range.
- Experimental results showed good agreement with plane-wave expansion calculations.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first demonstration of a planar photonic crystal polarization splitter operating solely in transmission mode in the near-infrared.
- The device effectively controls polarization-dependent light propagation.
- The findings pave the way for advanced optical components in photonic integrated circuits.
