Silicon-on-insulator polarization splitter using two horizontally slotted waveguides

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Integrated Optics
• Semiconductor Devices

Background:

• Polarization splitters are crucial components in integrated photonic circuits.
• Short-reach optical communication systems require compact and efficient polarization management devices.
• Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology offers a platform for miniaturized optical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and analyze a novel, short-length silicon-on-insulator (SOI) polarization splitter.
• To investigate the performance of a polarization splitter based on horizontally slotted silicon waveguides.
• To explore the impact of design parameters on the splitter's length and extinction ratio.

Main Methods:

• Design and simulation of a polarization splitter utilizing two horizontally slotted silicon waveguides.
• Analysis of device performance, including splitting length and extinction ratio (ER).
• Parametric study on the effects of slot thickness, waveguide spacing, and slot refractive index.

Main Results:

• Achieved a polarization splitter with a compact length of 46.7 micrometers.
• Demonstrated a high extinction ratio (ER) of 22 dB.
• Observed an 18 nm operational bandwidth for ER exceeding 20 dB around 1550 nm.

Conclusions:

• The proposed slotted waveguide design enables ultra-compact polarization splitting on the SOI platform.
• The device exhibits excellent performance metrics, including high ER and reasonable bandwidth.
• Further optimization of design parameters can potentially enhance performance for specific applications.