Passive broadband silicon-on-insulator polarization splitter.

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Integrated Optics

Background:

• Polarization splitters are crucial optical components for various applications, including optical communications and sensing.
• Existing polarization splitters often suffer from wavelength dependency or require active control.
• Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology offers a robust platform for integrated photonic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a novel, passive, wavelength-independent polarization splitter.
• To leverage arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) configurations for polarization splitting.
• To utilize cladding stress-induced birefringence for efficient light polarization manipulation.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a zero-order arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) on a silicon-on-insulator platform.
• Engineering cladding stress to induce birefringence for polarization splitting.
• Characterization of the device's performance across a broad wavelength range.

Main Results:

• Achieved a TE to TM splitting ratio better than -15 dB over a 20 nm tuning range around 1550 nm.
• Demonstrated a splitting ratio better than -10 dB across the entire accessible wavelength range (1465 nm to 1580 nm).
• Attained a highest splitting extinction ratio of -20 dB.

Conclusions:

• The developed device represents the first reported passive broadband polarization splitter based on AWG technology.
• The novel approach using cladding stress-induced birefringence offers a promising solution for wavelength-independent polarization splitting.
• This technology has significant potential for integrated photonic applications requiring precise polarization control.