Integrated multistack waveguide polarizer

Waveguide polarizers based on embedded thin metallic stacks are proposed. Highly efficient TM polarization is obtained for metal thicknesses smaller than the optical skin depth. The optimal single-metal-layer waveguide is found to yield an extinction ratio better than 12.2 dB/mm and a linear loss below 0.075 dB/mm. Experimental confirmation for this structure is also obtained in polymeric waveguides. Polarization efficiencies better than 100 dB/mm with linear losses below 2 dB/mm are calculated for multi-stack waveguides. This high performance is found to hold even if oxidation at metal-core boundaries is considered.