Passive Polarization Converter Fabricated by Controlling Optic Axis of Poled Polymer Waveguides

폴링된 폴리머 광도파로의 광축을 조절하여 제작한 수동형 편광 변환기

A novel passive TE/TM polarization mode converter is fabricated by using poled polymer waveguides. The optic axis of the poling induced waveguide is slowly rotated by using a slowly varying structure of poling electrodes. Thus the polarization conversion is achieved as the guided mode propagates through the waveguide. The proposed device is simulated by a full vectorial beam propagation method (VBPM) for anisotropic medium. For the rotation length of 1 mm, the TE polarization of the guided mode is successfully converted to the TM polarization with negligible loss. Based on the simulation results, we fabricated the polarization converter which is tested by using 1.3 $\mu$m laser diode. TE to TM mode conversion is observed with a polarization extinction ratio higher than 30 dB, and the excess loss is less than 1 dB. The polarization conversion is relatively insensitive to wavelength since the device contains no periodic structures. These devices are easier to fabricate than others containing periodic structures.