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Published on: September 5, 2019
Reconfigurable on-chip polarizers enabled by phase-change-material-mediated loss engineering
Optics Express
|June 11, 2026
Summary
We developed reconfigurable on-chip polarizers using phase-change materials for integrated photonics. These devices offer broadband, high-contrast polarization control, crucial for advanced silicon photonic circuits.
Area of Science:
- Photonics
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Active on-chip polarization control is critical for integrated photonic systems.
- Existing methods often lack reconfigurability or nonvolatility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and demonstrate novel reconfigurable on-chip polarizers.
- To achieve independent engineering of polarization propagation and attenuation.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a symmetric three-waveguide directional coupler.
- Employing a nonvolatile phase-change material, Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST).
- Exploiting controlled phase mismatch for distinct TE and TM mode coupling.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated broadband operation from 1500 nm to 1600 nm.
- Achieved polarization extinction ratios exceeding 20 dB for both TE-pass and TM-pass configurations.
- Realized independent control over propagation path and attenuation for different polarizations.
Conclusions:
- The proposed device offers a compact, reconfigurable, and nonvolatile solution for polarization control.
- This strategy is highly suitable for silicon photonic integrated circuits.
- Enables high-contrast polarization management in integrated photonic systems.
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