Title :
Design of optical strip-loaded waveguides with zero modal birefringence
Author :
Wong, Wa Peng ; Chiang, Kin Seng
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Syst. Dev., Hongkong Telecom, China
fDate :
7/1/1998 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Integrated optic devices are usually sensitive to the polarization state of light, because the two polarized modes of the waveguides that form the devices in general have different propagation constants and may also suffer from different losses. The performance of such devices becomes unstable when they are connected to single-mode fibers, as the polarization state of the output light from a practical fiber link usually fluctuates in an unpredictable manner. A simple solution could be provided by using waveguides in which the two polarized modes are degenerate, i.e., have equal propagation constants. In this paper, it is shown theoretically with the spectral index method that the quasi-transverse electric (TE) and quasi-transverse magnetic (TM) modes of a properly designed optical strip-loaded waveguide can have equal propagation constants. The conditions for achieving mode degeneracy, or zero modal birefringence, are presented and discussed. Strip-loaded waveguides with degenerate polarized modes can be used potentially for forming polarization-insensitive optoelectronic devices
Keywords :
birefringence; integrated optics; light polarisation; optical communication equipment; optical design techniques; optical losses; optical waveguide theory; optical waveguides; refractive index; sensitivity; TE modes; TM modes; degenerate polarized modes; equal propagation constants; fiber link; integrated optic devices; optical strip-loaded waveguide; optical strip-loaded waveguide design; polarization state; polarization-insensitive optoelectronic devices; polarized modes; propagation constants; single-mode fiber connections; spectral index method; unstable; zero modal birefringence; Integrated optics; Optical design; Optical fiber devices; Optical fiber polarization; Optical losses; Optical polarization; Optical sensors; Optical waveguide theory; Optical waveguides; Propagation constant;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of