A compact two-dimensional grating coupler used as a polarization splitter

Author

Taillaert, Dirk ; Chong, Harold ; Borel, Peter I. ; Frandsen, Lars H. ; De La Rue, Richard M. ; Baets, Roel

Author_Institution

Dept. of Inf. Technol., Ghent Univ.IMEC, Gent, Belgium

Volume

15

Issue

9

fYear

2003

Firstpage

1249

Lastpage

1251

Abstract

We demonstrate a novel polarization splitter based on a two-dimensional grating etched in a silicon-on-insulator waveguide. The device couples orthogonal modes from a single-mode optical fiber into identical modes of two planar ridge waveguides. The extinction ratio is better than 18 dB in the wavelength range of 1530-1560 nm and the coupling efficiency is approximately 20%. The device is very compact and couples light only to transverse-electric modes of the planar waveguides. Therefore, it may be used in a polarization diversity configuration to implement a polarization insensitive photonic integrated circuit based on photonic crystal waveguides.

Keywords

diffraction gratings; integrated optoelectronics; optical beam splitters; optical couplers; optical planar waveguides; optical polarisers; photonic crystals; ridge waveguides; silicon-on-insulator; 1530 to 1560 nm; 20 percent; compact two-dimensional grating coupler; coupling efficiency; identical modes; orthogonal modes; photonic crystal waveguides; planar ridge waveguides; planar waveguides; polarization diversity configuration; polarization insensitive photonic integrated circuit; polarization splitter; single-mode optical fiber; Coupling circuits; Etching; Gratings; Optical coupling; Optical fiber polarization; Optical planar waveguides; Optical polarization; Optical waveguides; Planar waveguides; Silicon on insulator technology;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2003.816671

Filename

1224595