Elimination of polarization sensitivity in silica-based wavelength division multiplexer using a polyimide half waveplate

Author

Inoue, Yasuyuki ; Takahashi, Hiroshi ; Ando, Shinji ; Sawada, Takashi ; Himeno, Akira ; Kawachi, Masao

Author_Institution

NTT Opto-Electron. Labs., Ibaraki, Japan

Volume

15

Issue

10

fYear

1997

fDate

10/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1947

Lastpage

1957

Abstract

This paper proposes a low-loss technique for eliminating polarization sensitivity in a silica-based planar lightwave circuit (PLC) which uses a polarization mode converter formed at the center of the circuit. This converter consists of a waveguide gap housing a polyimide half waveplate. The excess loss of the converter was drastically reduced to 0.26 dB with a Δ=0.75% waveguide by employing an 18 μm-wide waveguide gap and a 14.5 μm-thick polyimide half waveplate. A polarization mode conversion crosstalk of -37 dB was achieved at 1.55 μm. Using this converter, we successfully eliminated the polarization sensitivity in some silica-based PLC-type wavelength division multiplexers. The converter is also insensitive to temperature and offers long term stability

Keywords

integrated optics; integrated optoelectronics; light polarisation; multiplexing equipment; optical communication equipment; optical crosstalk; optical elements; optical losses; optical polarisers; optical polymers; sensitivity; silicon compounds; stability; wavelength division multiplexing; 1.55 mum; 14.5 mum; excess loss; long term stability; low-loss technique; polarization mode conversion crosstalk; polarization mode converter; polarization sensitivity; polyimide half waveplate; silica-based PLC-type wavelength division multiplexers; silica-based planar lightwave circuit; silica-based wavelength division multiplexer; waveguide gap; Circuits; Crosstalk; Optical polarization; Optical retarders; Polyimides; Programmable control; Temperature sensors; Waveguide discontinuities; Wavelength converters; Wavelength division multiplexing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.633599

Filename

633599