Tunable Mach-Zehnder polarization splitter using height-tapered Y-branches

Author

Hu, M.H. ; Huang, J.Z. ; Scarmozzino, R. ; Levy, M. ; Osgood, R.M., Jr.

Author_Institution

Microelectron. Sci. Lab., Columbia Univ., New York, NY, USA

Volume

9

Issue

6

fYear

1997

fDate

6/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

773

Lastpage

775

Abstract

A tunable TE/TM polarization splitter, based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with an electrooptic switch, is demonstrated in GaAs-AlGaAs. Symmetric and asymmetric Y-branches employing height-tapered waveguides are used to achieve power splitting and mode sorting, respectively, in the interferometer. The device has an extinction ratio of /spl sim/20 dB and an excess loss less than 1.5 dB for both TE and TM polarized light. The device can be reconfigured by tuning the switching voltage for operation at both 1.3- and 1.55-pm wavelengths.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; Mach-Zehnder interferometers; aluminium compounds; electro-optical switches; gallium arsenide; integrated optics; optical losses; optical polarisers; optical waveguides; tuning; 1.3 mum; 1.5 dB; 1.55 mum; GaAs-AlGaAs; Mach-Zehnder interferometer; TE polarized light; TM polarized light; asymmetric Y-branches; electrooptic switch; excess loss; extinction ratio; height-tapered Y-branches; height-tapered waveguides; mode sorting; photonic integrated circuits; power splitting; switching voltage; symmetric Y-branches; tunable Mach-Zehnder polarization splitter; tunable TE/TM polarization splitter; tuning; Birefringence; Electrodes; Optical polarization; Optical waveguides; Semiconductor materials; Sorting; Switches; Tellurium; Tunable circuits and devices; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.584986

Filename

584986