Analysis of polarization independent Mach-Zehnder-type integrated optical isolator

Author

Zhuromskyy, Oleksandr ; Lohmeyer, Manfred ; Bahlmann, Norbert ; Dotsch, Horst ; Hertel, Peter ; Popkov, A.F.

Author_Institution

Osnabruck Univ., Germany

Volume

17

Issue

7

fYear

1999

fDate

7/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1200

Lastpage

1205

Abstract

This paper proposes, for the first time, an integrated optical isolator independent of light polarization. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with two nonreciprocal phase shifters, one for transverse electric (TE) modes and another one for transverse magnetic (TM) modes can be adjusted so that it blocks the fundamental modes of the waveguides constituting the interferometer propagating in one direction and is transparent for the modes propagating in the opposite direction. If the interferometer branch waveguides are in single mode regime, the performance of the device will not depend on the polarization of incoming light. The nonreciprocal phase shifters can be realized on structures with magnetization tangential to the propagation direction. Three geometries of nonreciprocal phase shifters are discussed and tolerances are estimated

Keywords

Mach-Zehnder interferometers; integrated optics; light polarisation; magneto-optical isolators; optical phase shifters; optical waveguides; Mach-Zehnder interferometer; TE modes; TM modes; fundamental modes; geometries; interferometer branch waveguides; light polarization; nonreciprocal phase shifters; polarization independent Mach-Zehnder-type integrated optical isolator analysis; propagation direction; single mode regime; Integrated optics; Isolators; Magnetic analysis; Optical interferometry; Optical polarization; Optical propagation; Optical waveguides; Phase shifters; Phase shifting interferometry; Tellurium;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/50.774255

Filename

774255